RADCLIFFE Angling Society has reeled in a prestigious award for the quality of its coaching.

The group runs junior coaching sessions every Tuesday evening at Starmount Lodges, off Browns Road, Bradley Fold.

They have been given the Clubmark award for providing a safe, effective and child friendly fishing environment.

Clare Macleod, the national Clubmark manager, and Julian Taylor, angling development officer, visited the group to present the award.

Ms Macleod said: “It was a fantastic evening which showed the club was well-organised and welcoming.

“There is a confidence around everything that the club does, from crucial health and safety procedures to the coaches and the volunteers I met who were second to none.

“It is clear that the club is really making a difference in the local community, encouraging many young people to have a go.”

The award has been welcomed by Shaun Miller, who collected it as secretary of the group.

He said: “Working towards accreditation and finally achieving it has meant that our club gets the recognition for all the hard work that its coaches and volunteers carry out every week.

“It means that we can show schools and parents of local children that we run a quality coaching programme in a safe and well-managed environment.”