MORE than 600 anglers will benefit after Hyndburn and Blackburn Angling Club were given a £2000 grant from "Awards for All."

The club, based at the fishing lodge near Clarendon Street, have tried for grants before but without luck so they are delighted they will be able to put the money to good use.

"We are chuffed to bits," said chairman Grahame Parkes. "We are already spending £3000 on a new fence but that has come from the club so we will be able to spend this money on the ground."

The developments ear-marked for the money included walkways for the disabled, new fishing platforms and making the bank side safe. And the grant will be also used to promote the junior side of the club.

The club boasts around 650 members altogether including 100 juniors.

"The junior section is thriving," admitted the chairman. "We have just won a national award and now have a Stage Two coach, Alan Lord, who is qualified to teach the junior members. There are also a couple of others waiting to sit the exams."

The award the juniors won was the National Junior AA Knock-out final at Melton Mowbray, beating off competition from all over the UK.