Withnell Angling Club (WAC) now has more than 400 members and they're now taking their message to a young audience.

The group was recently awarded a grant of £1,500 from Youth Opportunities, which has helped buy nine full sets of fishing equipment which juniors can borrow free of charge.

WAC spokesman Dave Cox hopes that schoolchildren will take the bait and encourage parents to take them fishing.

He said: "When you're young, there is nothing better than going fishing with your dad in the open, fresh air. It gets you out and about.

"More people on a summer's day go angling than play football. It's good for kids because it keeps them off the streets and is a fantastic sport to be involved with.

"As a kid, your mum takes you swimming, well this is a chance for dads to get sporty with their children. Football might sell more newspapers traditionally but fishing is a competitive sport too, and unlike soccer, anglers can go on their own too."

Club members fish in any one of 10 locations within a five-mile radius of Withnell.

The waters comprise nine lodges and a stretch of the River Darwen in Samlesbury Bottoms.

Dave said: "Being a member gives you private access to some of the best stocked waters in Lancashire. Our lakes are naturally maintained."

Withnell Angling Club is hoping to get kids hooked at a fishing match at 9am on Saturday, April 26, at Shale Holes, off Railway Road, Brinscall. Annual junior membership costs just £8.

Anyone interested can download an application form from withnell-angling-club.co.uk and send it to: Membership secretary, PO Box 41, Chorley, PR6 8JZ with a cheque and a passport photo. Alternatively people can request to join online and an application form will be sent out.

For more information call chairman Gordon Braithwaite on 01254 830031.