A HUGE pike is making inroads into Lydney Lake's ornamental wildfowl – some accounts say it has been engulfing whole live ducks.

"There is a terrific splashing and squawking and the birds are dragged under," said Lydney Angling Club secretary and treasurer Malcolm Skelton.

"People watch expecting them to pop up again but they don't. Some have seen the fish itself round by the old boathouse say it is at least 25lb, possibly 27lb."

Mr Skelton said the club had taken advice from fish experts who say the big pike probably does more good than harm by eating smaller pike which feed on other species in the lake.

The club has recently spent £3,500 on restocking the lake. They have introduced three 19lb carp along with large quantities of good-sized tench and perch.

•Pike fishermen on Lydney Canal have been warned they must not kill pike they catch out of hand after an official found seven or eight dead pike thrown on the canal bank.

Mr Skelton said this had led the club to withdraw a rule which allowed members to take the occasional pike or eel for the pot.

"Obviously this is being misinterpreted and we had to act to stop it – the club deplores wanton killing of any fish," he said.

"It spoils things for other anglers and it could give angling a bad name."

Notices have been placed with tackle shops and on the canal bank warning club members not to kill pike.

Mr Skelton said there were big pike in the canal as well as the lake. "Some of them are like torpedoes," he said.