A YOUNG fishing enthusiast was all smiles when she caught a carp at the Flaxlands Fishery in Royal Wootton Bassett over the Easter holidays.

Five-year-old Lilly Read was enjoying her fifth fishing trip with her dad Gary last Saturday when the alarm on her rod suddenly beeped and they reeled in the fish.

The carp weighed six pounds and two ounces.

Lily said: “Fishing’s the best, I love it, I like spending time with my dad and catching the big ones.

“I named this one Fred.”

It was caught with sweet honey and spice pellets bait.

She also caught a few trench and a roach while they fished there for six hours.

Gary was proud that his daughter was following in his footsteps.

He said: “She’s always asking questions and getting more and more involved, it won’t be long before she’s asking me to buy her her own reels.

“She wants to go camping and try night-time fishing next - she’s very outdoors-y and hands-on.”

Lilly, who lives in Old Walcot and goes to Lawn Primary School, also dances as a member of the Wilkes Academy.

There has been a push by local angling clubs in recent years to get children more interested in fishing.

The Swindon Isis Angling Club offers free membership to under-16s to encourage young people to give it a go.

Club chairman Peter Gilbert said: “It’s brilliant to see youngsters are getting involved in fishing, it’s a very pleasant and immensely enjoyable sport which gets them out into the countryside and teaches them about conservation.

“The greatest gift my father ever gave to me was to pass on his love of fishing, it’s given me so much joy for 80 years.”

Terry Cooper, from Plaum’s Pit Angling Club, was also delighted by Lilly’s love of fishing.

He said: “Juniors are the future of our sport and I hope this is just the beginning of a long and fulfilling relationship with angling for her.”