Plans are well afoot to bring even more youngsters into fishing through an innovative scheme that has already helped more than 5,000 young anglers.

Get Hooked On Fishing's (GHOF) training programme is built around skills development and co-ordinators attended their second conference at Witton Park in County Durham, home of Get Hooked North East.

Everyone was keen to share stories of last year's successes and work out some ideas to get more young people fishing.

His Honour Judge John Milford QC, chair of trustees, welcomed everyone before listening to each co-ordinator as they gave a short presentation about their own scheme. Afterwards he said: “It was absolutely fascinating to hear of their work and was very inspirational. They are doing wonderful things with great commitment.”

Joined by a visiting party from the Metropolitan Police, the delegates looked at how to build sustainability for their projects and then talked to a group of young peer mentors on how best to connect with young people in their own areas.

Ed Parkinson the new co-ordinator for National Fishing Week joined the delegates to introduce himself and find out how the team can help promote angling between July 19th and 27th.

With 16 schemes operating in sea, game and coarse fishing around the UK and another five planned for 2008, the work of the trust continues to go from strength to strength.

However, Anne Moyle, chief executive officer for GHOF, was quick to point out that finding funding is an essential part of keeping the schemes going and any support is always well received.

Further information can be found on www.ghof.org.uk