ANGLERS have helped to turn a pond into a nature reserve.

Charlton's Pond, in Billingham, Teesside, has undergone a facelift over the past year, thanks to volunteers from Billingham Angling Club and funding from Onyx Environmental Trust.

The volunteers have been installing 12 eco-islands, which will act as refuges and a spawning habitat for smaller fish.

The vegetated islands have a mesh cage underneath which allow fish to enter at speed when under threat from predators such as cormorants, which can devastate stocks.

Over the next few months, Stockton Borough Council, which owns the site, will organise work funded by Landfill Tax credits to erect fencing, create a tern raft, improve the car park surface and install information panels.

Children from St John's RC Primary School, in Billingham, have designed a logo which will feature on a leaflet promoting the site.

Regular fishing competitions and coaching sessions are held throughout the year. A coaching programme is being developed for junior anglers, sponsored by the Environment Agency, which has trained the coaches and provided angling equipment.

Councillor Jean O'Donnell, Stockton council's cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture, said: "The new islands will help to ensure that the reserves of fish stock are maintained to make certain this well-loved nature reserve is used and enjoyed by anglers for many more years to come."

For more information, call The Tackle Box on (01642) 532034. Day tickets are available on the bank side.