WE'RE hooked on fishing. That was the message from nearly 40 youngsters who turned out at Stoneham Lakes, near Eastleigh, at the weekend for a special day of lessons and competitions.

The teenagers from Fareham, Eastleigh, Southampton and Gosport were soon heatedly discussing floats, worms, maggots, ledgers, rods and reels at the event organised by Hansfords fishing shop, in Fareham High Street.

Eastleigh and District Angling Club members dished out expert advice on everything from bait to techniques as scores of youngsters cast lines for the first time.

Shirley policeman Paul Martin, who takes disadvantaged children on fishing trips to help keep them out of trouble, was one of a dozen helpers.

He said: "This is about bringing kids into the sport to divert them away from anything else they might get up to during their summer holidays.

We teach them the art of fishing and respect for the environment."

Claire Poigndestre, from Hansfords, donated £1,000 worth of top-of-the-range fishing kit as competition prizes.

She added: "Fishing is a nice sport, done by nice people and we're really keen to see more and more children get into it."