Fantastic chub fishing has been enjoyed by two Norfolk anglers on the upper reaches of the River Wensum.

Colin Howlett of Lyng and Terry Housego, of Gressenhall, were the two big fish experts who hit the jackpot while fishing bread flake in fancied swims during the holiday break on the Lyng/Lenwade stretch.

Howlett, who is also noted for his triumphant surf-casting prowess at world level, bagged specimen chub scaling 6lb 10oz, 6lb 8oz, 5lb 15oz, 5lb 14oz and several others between 4lb and 5lb 8oz.

Housego, a well-known all-rounder equally at home on rivers, Broads and lakes, bagged fish of 6lb 9oz, 5lb 9oz and two others over 4lb before he was struck down by the influenza virus and bed-ridden.

A delighted Howlett recalled: 'On one of the days I was visited by a large otter which showed no fear at all when it popped its head out only two metres from me and actually came back twice more to check me out.

'Probably it was after the signal crayfish which have become an alien pest in this river, eating every bait, including bread.

'I have seen partly-eaten crayfish on the banks so the otters may be thinning them out.'