One of the biggest - if not THE biggest - catfish reported in the county has been caught from a local water.

Young Stephen Lawrence, from Great Missenden, Bucks, was one of several youngsters who took part in a recent teach-in for youngsters hosted by pike specialist Gord Burton on St Johns Lake on Shimano Linear Fisheries at Stanton Harcourt.

Legering for pike with a freelined herring on size six trebles attached to a 28lb wire trace, Stephen thought he had hooked a pike of a lifetime when he struck into the big cat which weighed 38lb 8oz - a lake record.

A few catfish, the biggest 14lbs, were stocked into St Johns four years ago and with the lake full of tench - the cat's favourite diet - they are putting on weight quickly.