A series of courses to boost interest in fly fishing are planned in Oxfordshire.

The scheme, which is a joint venture between the Farmoor Fly Fishing Club and Thames Water Utilities, will run for one evening a week for six weeks later this year and will be open to all.

Farmoor Fly Fishing Club secretary Wally Ward said: "The courses will be as informal as we can make them, with instruction given by experienced anglers.

"They will be open to members and non-members, senior or junior, male and female. The content will change from week to week and will include safety, choosing the right tackle, techniques and methods of fly fishing, basic entomology, the environment and fly tying. Each week there will also be a period of fishing."

The courses, which follow a decision by the club to admit junior members for the first time this season, will be held at Farmoor Reservoir, near Oxford, and Darlow Water, near Stanton Harcourt.

Ward said: "First, we need to reach out to older anglers who want to put something back into the sport and there is no better way of doing this than by tutoring a less able angler.

"The cost of the courses will be kept to a minimum, and will include the cost of an annual rod licence, or there will be a reduction if a current licence has already been purchased."

Thames Water Utilities are providing accommodation and equipment as well as expertise, and the Farmoor Fly Fishing Club will be providing venues, organisation and tuition.

Anyone interested in registering an interest in attending the courses, or acting as an instructor, should contact either Ward on 01993 881503, or the wardens' office at Farmoor reservoir on 01865 863033.