PUPILS at a County Durham school are getting hooked on a new hobby which is help- ing to preserve traditional skills.

Students at Barnard Castle School are meeting once a week to tackle the art of fly-tying with keen angler and biology teacher Mark Fuller.

Mr Fuller, who learned the art from his father and grandfather, said: "You need a lot of patience because it's quite intricate, but once you've learned the skills it's actually quite easy.

"It makes fishing a lot more satisfying when you catch something with one of your own flies."

There are hundreds of different varieties of flies to be made, using materials including raffia, wool, feathers and even tinsel.

Keen angler Oliver Milverton, 14, of Bedale, said: "It takes about 30 minutes to make each fly.

"I've fished since I was eight and made my own flies since I was nine.

"You can save money by making them yourself."

Angie Li, a boarder at Barnard Castle, who comes from Hong Kong, started her new hobby when the class began this term, one of 70 extra curricular activities at Barnard Castle School.

Deputy headteacher Oliver Marlow said: "We are very proud of the range of activities available to suit the particular interests of all our students.

"A number of students enjoying fishing so it's great to see traditional skills like this being passed on."