THREE teenagers from the North-East will travel to an angling fair to offer advice to young people on how to take up fishing.

Jonathan Boulton, 14, from Sunnydale School, Shildon, Wayne Collins, 16, from Bishop Barrington School, Bishop Auckland, and Paul Soulsby, 16, from Tanfield Lea School, Stanley, all County Durham, will join 17-year-old Corina Smith, from Stoke-on-Trent, at the Chatsworth Angling Fair, in Derbyshire, on May 22 and 23.

All four were trained through the Get Hooked on Fishing scheme started by County Durham police officer Mick Watson.

They are hoping to encourage more young people to take up the sport and join the scheme.

PC Watson launched Get Hooked on Fishing as part of his police work, aimed at helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, by introducing young people to angling and giving them a chance to take up the sport for free.

It is now backed by the Environment Agency, the Countryside Alliance, the Anglers' Conservation Association and many other key public and private bodies.

PC Watson, 39, said: "In its first two years, the scheme involved some 200 youngsters aged between ten and 16, from a cross-section of social backgrounds.

"Of those, 65 had been classed by various official bodies as being 'at risk' of falling into crime.

"I'm glad to say that, after taking part in the scheme, not one of the 65 got into trouble.''