A REDDITCH soldier who is serving with his regiment in Canada has realised one of his life-long dreams while on holiday on Vancouver Island.

While fishing in the Campbell River at Salmon Point, Sgt Jeff Twilton, 36, reeled in 36lbs of salmon - after having thrown back three sharks.

His mum Teresa, of Sedgeley Close, Abbeydale, said her son had been "euphoric" at his catch and that it had more than compensated for a similar but disappointing trip in the Dominican Republic last year.

She added: "A particularly nice touch was that a local canning company took the catch, canned it and labelled it and would despatch it to Jeff's home in Medicine Hat, a total of 58 cans in all.

"There's no guessing what the family will be having this Christmas!"

Sgt Twilton is married to Karen and the couple have a son, Jack, 11, and daughter Sophie, eight.

He has been in the army for 16 years and has served in the Gulf and Kosovo.

The former Abbey High School pupil, who is in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, is nearing the end of a two-year posting to Canada.