ANGLERS in the North West are being urged to make sure they hold valid rod licences before going fishing.

The Environment Agency announced a blitz on illegal angling following an upsurge in the number of people caught fishing without valid rod licences during the previous spring bank holidays.

Its survey of England and Wales showed that about one in every ten anglers was unable to produce a valid rod licence, for which the maximum penalty is a fine of £2,500.

Mark Diamond, regional fisheries manager for the Environment Agency, said: "Our intention is to prosecute unlicensed anglers. Licence evaders are not only committing an offence, but are cheating their fellow anglers who have bought a licence. It is a drain on agency resources and means we have less money to improve fisheries for the benefit of all anglers."

Money collected from licences is directly invested by the Agency into schemes such as habitat maintenance, fish rescue activities, and disease detection. Licence prices start at £2.50 for one day of fishing, increasing to £59 for a year-long adult licence.

Anyone aged 12 years or over who fishes for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels must have a valid rod licence purchased from Post Offices, direct from the Environment Agency by calling 0870 1662662 or accessing the website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish