ONE of the biggest angling festivals in the country takes place on the River Avon this weekend.

The annual three-day Evesham extravaganza - starting on Saturday and ending on Bank Holiday Monday - has again attracted some of the biggest names in the sport.

The opening day's skirmishes will see 35 anglers competing in the Shakespeare Championships after a series of qualification matches during the summer and they will be joined by the same number of invited participants.

Competitors will arrive from all over England and Wales to join local anglers from Evesham, Bidford and Pershore.

The 70-strong field will take to the river initially for the draw on the Crown Meadow at 9am and then for the five hours of stiff competition.

Prize money worth £10,000 is up for grabs for the coveted Shakespeare Tackle sponsored event organised by Diana Raphael and Dave Harrell.

The next day 75 anglers will compete to become Wychavon champion when almost £8,000 is up for grabs for the successful competitors.

The event, organised by the Evesham and District Association, has again featured qualifying matches together with invites to a host of top names.

The Avon Team Championships draw the DHP Publications (Match Anger) sponsored event to its conclusion on Monday when 14 teams of five will be battling it out for the £9,000 on offer.

Teams competing include one from the local association, Daiwa Dorking in Surrey, a Mosella Garbolino team from Manchester and a Shakespeare Super-team comprising Jeff Perrin, Steve Williams, Paul Bick, Nigel Bull and Tony Skinner.

Evesham's Brian Bennett, Tony Bench, Trevor Chalk, Dave Packwood and Gary Seadon will join England internationals Des Shipp, Bob Nudd, Pete Vasey and Paul Yates, while four-times world champion Bob Nudd is sure to attract the crowds on Saturday.

The Wychavon Championships incorporate a family fun day on the Meadow and a host of English and Welsh internationals will be joined by a trio of ladies - Emma Pickering, Helen Dagnall and Wendy Lythgoe.