Date: 23/04/2010
High Peak community safety workers and Glossop Amalgamated Angling Society have launched a project to get youngsters hooked on fishing in a bid to keep them on the straight and narrow.
Saturday 17 April saw the start of a six-match tournament running every two weeks on the pond at the top of North Road.
Eleven budding anglers are competing each week for a trophy sponsored by Peakdale Financial Services. What is more, thanks to the Environment Agency, a rod and reel will be given to everyone who takes part.
The competition has been organised by High Peak Community Safety Partnership and the angling society.
Each match is supervised by members of the society plus officers from High Peak Borough Council, Derbyshire County Council and Derbyshire Police, many of whom are giving up their Saturdays without pay to help out.
Said borough council head of communities Mark Forrester: "Fishing remains one of the country's most popular participation sports, and there's little finer on a pleasant afternoon than pitting your wits against those of a wily fish.
"The initiative underlines the partnership's commitment to providing diversionary activities that keep young people profitably occupied while awakening interests that will hopefully enhance their quality of life for years to come.
"Great credit goes to the volunteers who are giving up their free time to supervise the matches. Thanks go also to Arundel Aquatics for providing storage and offering discounts on some of the equipment we needed", he paid tribute.