A man from Frome has been ordered to pay a total of £189 after being caught fishing for freshwater fish without a valid rod licence in Farleigh Wood Pool, in Bath.

Aidan Powell, 22, from Blackberry Road in Frome, was sentenced at Swindon magistrates' court on 28 March.

He pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a £40 fine, £135 in costs and a £14 victim surcharge fee.

James Allan, an Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer, said: "Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, benefitting anglers and, for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.

"These anglers disregarded signs at the fisheries that said an Environment Agency rod licence was needed to fish.

"Rod fishing byelaws are there to protect fish stocks and their habitats. If you do not comply with these byelaws you could face prosecution and be fined up to £2,500."

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water, needs a licence.