A BOLTON angler is celebrating land the biggest catch of his life.

Andy Ormrod, from Harwood, hooked the 57lb 10oz mirror carp in Southern France last week after a 20-minute struggle.

The 40-year-old professional angler was even pulled across the water by the big fish in his attempts to reel it in.

Fortunately his determination paid off and he managed to photograph the carp on the banks of its home in Lac de Saint-Cassien before releasing it back into the waters.

He said: "It's a pinnacle, once in a lifetime, place to fish. It is well known for it's exceptionally big and old carp and is 1,500 acres across.

"We had been out there since Saturday and I was getting a little bit panicked as I had lost a fish the previous day and you start to think I've made a 1,500 mile trip all for nothing, so when I got it I had to make sure I landed it.

"The fish dragged me around in the boat for around 15 minutes before I managed to slip the net under it."

He added: "It's the biggest fish I've ever caught. The world record for a carp of the same species is about 100lbs but anything above 50lbs is a rare specimen."

Once caught the fish is checked over, in order to make sure it has come to no harm from the catch, and photographed before being released.

The Cassien is a favourite for anglers looking for a challenge as fishing can only take place during daylight hours and on the banks of the shore, with boats only used once the bait has hooked a fish.

Mr Ormand, who has been fishing since he was six-years-old and runs coaching business Improve Your Fishing, said the catch marked a pinnacle of 30 years of fishing.