A crackdown on illegal fishing netted just one angler who was using too many rods, it emerged last night.

Environment Agency enforcement officers targeted the Great Ouse Relief Channel, between King's Lynn and Denver, at the weekend.

It came after reports that people were fishing illegally on the man-made waterway from rubber dinghies.

But while some of the 30 anglers locxated along the channel's 11 miles were campaed in remote areas, just one was found to be using three rods - instead of the two permitted on a single license.

'This was an extremely valuable day as the boat was seen by many anglers who were all pleased to see us taking this approach,' said Lesley Robertson, the EA's environmental crime team leader.

'All anglers need a valid Environment Agency rod licence and we were pleased to find only one person fishing illegally.'

Licence holders are allowed to use up to two rods. Rod licences run from 1 April to 31 March.

The EA is conducting targeted blitzes across the east of England based on information gathered from a number of sources.

It said officers planned to visit at least five other waterways across the region during November.