When buses and bikes were the main form of transport they flocked from Manchester, Liverpool and further afield to land big catches on one-time premier waters such as Pennington Flash.

Now half a century of history, relating the ups and downs, successes and humour of angling around Journal-land has been charted by local rod and reel exponent Fred Cooper (pictured).

Retired civil servant Fred, of Beverley Avenue, Leigh has written "Fishing for Fun - a personalised history of Angling in Leigh" which goes on sale from the end of the month, priced £4.

It is packed with nostalgia, part fine-detailed local history and with a smattering of amusing stories of some of the great local characters.

It highlights the incomparable Dickie Bowker, Benny Ashurst -- arguably the greatest angler of his generation -- and his son, Kevin, best in the world for 15 years and world champion in 1981, and many more.

Fred, who has fished all his life and was born and brought-up in Leigh, says: "I have felt for years there has been a need for a written account of fishing, waters and characters connected with the town.

"Leigh has had many great anglers who have had a huge influence on the sport and their outstanding ability and achievement deserves recognition.

"Charlie Hibbs, present Leigh and District Angling Association secretary, is the only angler to have twice won the Embassy Division Two national championship.

"Bill Hughes, now in his nineties, is the oldest surviving national champion -- he won on the River Welland in 1958 when the event was one huge, blue riband match.

"There is a lot of information about waters past and present, including some of the one-time well known warm water mill and colliery lodges, which used to be a great attraction, especially when they steamed in winter.

"I hope the book will appeal to those anglers who like funny stories as well as those who would like to be taken back to a golden era with a lot of happy memories.

"I hope too that it serves to encourage more and more youngsters to take up this great sport, which put Leigh on the map."

Living in the land of the 30-odd pound carp (netted when Springfield canal basin at the end of Pilling Street, Leigh was drained and filled-in) and the 28lb pike (a 1920's catch at the Flash) Fred says any profits from book sales will be put back in to the sport.

Beautifully printed by Leigh's Community Print Workshop the book includes contributions from Fred's long time friend and top regional angling correspondent John Weedon of Elm Road, Abram.

It is available from Chamley's, Union Street, Leigh, Leigh Angling Centre, Twist Lane, S & L Newsagents, Holden Road, Leigh Library and Atherton Tackle, Market Street, Atherton.