Nearly 30,000 people now hold a fishing licence in Wales.

There was a bumper growth of 18 per cent in junior licences, on top of a three per cent year-on-year increase in the number of adult licences sold.

This rise is almost certainly due to existing anglers taking the opportunity to start fishing again, together with those taking up the sport for the first time or returning to the sport after a long absence.

Peter Gough, Natural resources Wales principal fisheries adviser said: "The Welsh environment offers a fantastic range of fishing, making it a sport for all.

"Getting people involved not only contributes to their physical and mental wellbeing but also helps them connect with nature.

"There are hundreds of community-based angling clubs across Wales and promoting angling opportunities is an important part of sustaining our fisheries.

"We are pleased to be working in partnership with the Angling Trust and Visit Wales to create a website that is a one stop shop source of information about fishing In Wales."