FISHERMEN are hoping to get troubled youngsters hooked on their hobby - and stop them falling foul of the law.

A new scheme also hopes to promote the sport among a new generation of anglers, amid fears that fewer fishing licences being sold means that waterways cannot be maintained.

The fishermen say they want to "use angling as a vehicle to create skills and social values in an atmosphere of self esteem, self worth and self confidence".

The idea is the brainchild of 13 professional anglers, calling themselves the Three Counties Angling Particip-ation Scheme, who met for the first time last week. Under the plan, youngsters who have been excluded from school can develop new skills under the guidance of fully-trained and Government vetted instructors. The scheme will cover Worcestershire, Herefordhire and Gloucester-shire and be based at Malvern's Three Counties Showground, where the group has a classroom and a lake.

Mornings would include a range of life skills such as IT, carpentry and even letter-writing and how to apply for jobs, before afternoons spent fishing and learning about environmental issues and animal welfare. Mark Eac-ock, of Callow End, near Worcester, who will be one of the trainers, said: "Some kids, for a whole range of reasons, are not academic but respond in a far more positive way to these sorts of skills. Fishing is a relaxing activity, helps them meet other people and can also lead to jobs in a major industry," he said.

Mr Eacock, a registered coach, said high schools, the Environment Agency, the police authority and Connexions service all backed the move.

During last week's meeting, a constitution was agreed and, at the next, on Tuesday, September 13, a name and committee will be voted on. Once established, a bank account can be opened.

Around £83,000 from Lottery grants and fund-raising will then be needed for IT equipment, and the project could start full-time in March or April.

The group is now asking youngsters to come up with a catchy name and logo for the project, with prizes of rods and tackle up for grabs.

There are three categories - under 18s, under 15s and under 11s - and entries should be sent to Angling for All, 2 Prospect Cottages, Terrace Road, Pinvin, Pershore, WR10 2DW.

The closing date is Saturday, September 10, and the winners will be notified by Tuesday, September 20.

In a similar angling scheme in Bourneville, Birmingham, police found that 98.5 per cent of young offenders stayed clear of trouble for at least two years after attending a fishing course.