Pupils swap classroom for canal bank

Youngsters at a Walsall school swapped the classroom for the canalside as they took part in an amateur angling session.

Ten pupils made the short journey from Watling Street Primary School, in Brownhills, to the Wyrley and Essington Canal, armed with equipment supplied by Angling Unlimited.

British Waterways has awarded the school almost £3,000 to pay for four, two-hour sessions. In total 40 students will take part in the project. School business manager Sandra Edge said most of the children, in Years 5 and 6, were fishing for the first time.

"Some had fished before with their parents but most were new to it," she said. "They were all really eager to catch something, and it was quite fun getting them to touch the maggots.

"They all got really into it in the end and were throwing them in the water. "It's been great fun and it was an absolutely superb day for it, in a superb spot here on the canal."

Further angling sessions will be held in May, June and July. The school has secured enough funding to run the workshops next year.

Meanwhile, a charity fishing contest is taking place in Lichfield for newly-formed charity 'We Love Lichfield'. It will be on Sunday at Stowe Pool, in Stowe Road, between 10am and 3pm. Tickets are £15 on 01543 418896.