ANGLERS may have a natural empathy with fish but they lack a certain something when it comes to dealing with children and adults.

I recently took my sons, aged eight and five, to Entwistle Reservoir. They had with them two nets and crab lines (no hook, just weights) and we went to the other side of the reservoir, away from all the "highly-skilled" anglers.

We were then approached by two anglers who stood, arms folded, and told us that we were "poaching" and that they were going to phone the police who would arrest us, seize our car and take us to court!

How ridiculous. Apart from the fact that children of that age can't be arrested, there was no criminal intent on our part and, anyway, we were unlikely to catch anything more than a cold!

These men should take a leaf out of my husband's book and spend a bit more time with their families. I have always encouraged my children in the things they want to do but I can tell you I won't be buying them fishing rods!

I would like to thank these anglers for their comment about putting us all in jail, as a consequence of which I had two little boys with nightmares.

Ms HEATHER SPENCER