Youngsters tried their hand at fly fishing thanks to a Country Alliance Initiative.

In what is believed to be the first-ever event of this kind held in the North West, a partnership between the Lancashire Branch of the Salmon and Trout Association, the Countryside Alliance, and Tony Doherty, a senior higher education professional made the event possible.

Seven youngsters from the Dallas Road Boys Club in Lancaster aged 12 and over were taught the basics of fly fishing for rainbow trout in still water.

Following a halal buffet, the youngsters spent the afternoon fishing, under the supervision of three qualified fly fishing instructors, all of whom have undergone the appropriate child protection training. By 4pm almost all the youngsters had landed a fish, returning home with their catches.

The event was also attended by Niki Penny, former Chair of Lancashire County Council, Richard Burge, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, and Tom Pridmore, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Wyre Borough Council.

Charles Jardine, Director of the Countryside Alliance's Campaign for Fishing said, "Our decision to organise and fund this event was based on a simple observation, namely that in many, many years of fishing around the UK, I and others with a similar level of experience, see very few people out fishing who appear to be from an Asian background.

"Perhaps the reason that so few people from this community are involved in the sport is that there are few families who have friends and relatives who go fishing, and so there is perhaps an unspoken perception that recreational fishing is an activity that is not appropriate for people like them."

"Over the last three years we have actively supported the Get Hooked on Fishing (GHoF) initiative, aimed at introducing youngsters to the sport, that has received Government recognition."

The event took place at the Wharf Lake, a Salmon and Trout Association fishery near Forton.

Youth and community workers in Lancashire, working with any and all kinds of groups, who might like to experience a day out fly fishing for trout can contact David Stocker of the Countryside Alliance in Lancaster on (01524) 840140.