A Bolton man who owned a fishery in the area for ten years has revealed he was forced to close up due to problems with minks in the water.

Last week the Fall Birch Lodge Coarse Fishery revealed they were looking for the predators which killed three fish on their property.

Owner Justin Cavalier said it would have been otters, minks or fish eating birds like a cormorant.

He said there was the potential for predators to act like a 'fox in a henhouse' and eat all fish in a close vicinity.

And now the owner of a nearby fishery has revealed he was forced to close due to the problem of minks.

Daniel Holt, from Horwich, owned the Mill Lane Fishery, located around two miles away from the Fall Birch Lodge Coarse Fishery, for around ten years.

But the 46-year-old became troubled by minks around six years ago.

In March last year they became so problematic he was forced to close his business.

He has found dead fish which had been attacked and eaten by predators and also found minks on his CCTV hovering in the area.

Mr Holt said: “I had to shut down because of minks.

“One of my fisherman spotted a family of minks, with two or three adults and three to four babies.

“There is a serious problem with minks in the area.

“I tried my best laying traps and stuff but they can travel eight miles to find food.

“The business was doing well but if a mink eats a ten pound fish that can cost me £100.

“I can’t afford to stock it when predators are eating fish.

“I used to love the business up there.”

He added that there were difficulties with putting up nets as his fishery was next to the river, meaning all the leaves would end up getting blocked in it.