NATIONAL Fishing Month (NFM) has again thousands of new participants to the sport of angling.

Some 326 special NFM events – a new record – were held nationwide across six weeks during July and August.

They were able to introduce nearly 14,000 to the sport.

NFM 2016 was launched at a specially organised showcase event at the Sportfish Game Fishing Centre at Theale, Reading, on a gloriously sunny day during which people tried game angling for the first time.

With a customised day full of hands-on angling opportunities, the event focus was on youngsters and newcomers, thereby meeting the core ethos of National Fishing Month.