ANGLERS are hoping to give their Polish counterparts a lesson in English etiquette after it was revealed they were fishing for food in Sankey canal.

Over the past month the members of Dallam and District Community Angling Group have been receiving increasing numbers of reports of Polish people using the water to catch fish, which they are then taking home to eat.

Fishermen are supposed to return fish to the water once they are caught and members of the group say the majority of the Polish anglers are fishing without the necessary license.

Anyone using the land is also supposed to be a member of the angling group or purchase a day ticket.

The problem is getting so bad that signs are due to be erected in Polish next week to warn the anglers of the necessary requirements to use the canal.

Louis Morris from the angling group said: "We have had reports of the Polish fishing early in the morning and also at dusk. When we go along to speak to them though they often say they can't speak English so they don't understand what we are saying.

"We believe it is quite common for people to fish and take home what they catch in Poland but the fact is they are not in Poland now."

The angling group say they now plan to pass details of any more incidents onto the Environment Agency which can enforce the rules and regulations.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency added that it was a national problem and urged anyone considering using the canal to make sure they had the correct licence.

hcartwright@guardiangrp.co.uk