The coarse fishing season on rivers is going out with a whimper as the foot and mouth outbreak tightens its grip on angling.

Virtually all river and canal fishing has been halted as a precaution against the disease.

Just a handful of stillwaters are still open, among them the Shimano and Newland AC waters near Stanton Harcourt. Oakfield Lake, near Bicester, is also still available.

With the season finishing next Wednesday, this is normally one of the busiest weeks for anglers and tackle dealers, but the latter are reporting an alarming drop in trade.

Match fishing has also ground to a halt and Kidlington AC's Last Chance Cup, scheduled for Sunday on the Cherwell, has been postponed until later in the year.