ANGLERS Paradise, at Halwill, recently held their ‘netting week’, where about 60 volunteers from all over the UK came to help, whilst raising money for local charities.

The last time ‘Easy Access Lake’ was netted was over 10 years ago and since then the fish have reproduced profusely. The fish were beginning to become overcrowded and there was a build-up of silt, so action had to be taken.

The lake was drained and fish were moved to stock ponds while the 3.5-acre lake was desilted — it has since begun to refill.

Afterwards, the helpers were released from duty and set free to go fishing and raise money for local charity organisations. Over £2,000 was raised during the ‘netting week’ through events like raffles, bingo, race night, quiz darts, billiards and archery competitions, nail painting, henna tattoos, making feather brooches and many more fundraising activities.

The total raised was added to the £7,000 pot Angler Paradise had already raised earlier this year.

On November 17, the Anglers Paradise team presented the local charities with the money they had raised before putting some of the fish back into the desilted lake.

Organsier Zyg Gregorek said: “I’m proud to say we raised about £2,000 during the netting week. We always do it for local causes — it is nice to be able to do something for the local area.

“We have held other events throughout the year to raise money. I even sold my homemade wine to raise money, with the labels reading ‘bought for local charities’.

“To all the fisherman that turned up, it was very good of them to help out. We raise money for local charities each year, sometimes its more, sometimes its less, but we always enjoy doing it!”

Donations of £2,000 each were made to the Devon Air Ambulance, Halwill Primary School, for repairs to Plymouth Cathedral and Halwill Church Tower, which will go towards repairs needed to the 3,000-year-old tower, which is disintegrating and in need of restoration.

Donations were also made of £500 each to Holsworthy Food Bank and Appledore Life Boats.