GRANTS of around £3,000 will allow three more disabled anglers to get closer to their sport at Cannop Ponds.

The money from Gloucestershire Community Foundation helped Yorkley Angling Club, which controls the fishing at the ponds, to install three more stable fishing platforms and wheelchair-friendly paths to reach them.

The new platforms at the day-ticket water augment four older platforms constructed by the Environment Agency, says club spokesman Terry McKenzie.

"It makes the fishing much more accessible for disabled anglers who come from as far away as Weston-super-Mare," Terry said.

"We have also recently had a Grassroots grant which has enable us to train one of our anglers, Nick Stephens, as a qualified angling coach to teach youngsters how to fish properly – we have around 70 junior club members and run contests through the summer for them."

Club members helped to construct the platforms and dredge the swims to make them snag-free.