ANGLERS are being warned to take heed of a new by-law governing bait.

For many years, anglers on the River Tees were able to fish with maggots all year, but as of this month, they are no longer able to do so.

A new by-law bans their use from March 14 to June 16 on any water where the coarse fish season is in force.

The Tees used to be exempt from the ban, which encompassed most other rivers, but the by-law is aimed at rationalising the system for all anglers in the North-East, and was drafted following consultations with angling clubs and other interested parties.

Richard Holmes, Environment Agency fisheries officer for the Tees, said: "There had previously been confusion amongst anglers as to where they could or could not fish with maggots.

"The new by-law simplifies this with a blanket ban.

"We now have the difficult task of making sure all anglers on the Tees are aware of the rule."

He said: "The rules are aimed to protect the valuable salmon and trout stocks in the region's rivers and our bailiffs have been told to report anyone breaking these rules."