Two friends caught fishing illegally during a trip together have been handed a court bill of almost £1,000. Anglers Liam Davidson and Blake Keyte breached fishing rules when they visited a nature reserve in Stafford.

Officers from the Environment Agency discovered the men were fishing in the close season. One of them also did not have a licence to fish - which costs as little as £33.

Their cases were heard at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Monday, October 23. An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "We hope the penalties that these illegal anglers have received will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws we have in place across England.

READ MORE: Inside creepy Lucy Letby fan group for 'perverts obsessed with baby killer'

Poll: What do you think can be done to stop dog attacks?

"Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing and for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.

"Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable. Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of legal anglers."

Davidson, 26, of Milton Grove, Stafford, was convicted in his absence of fishing in the close season at Doxey Marshes, Stafford, on May 27. He was ordered to pay a £220 fine, £135 costs and an £88 victim surcharge.

Keyte, 24, of Greensome Court, Stafford, admitted fishing in the close season and fishing without a licence on the same day. He was ordered to pay a £300 fine, £135 costs, and a victim surcharge of £88.

Any angler aged 13 or over, fishing on a river, canal or still water needs a licence to fish. A one-day licence starts from £6.60, with an annual licence starting from £33.

The coarse fish close season runs from March 15 until June 15 each year, the Environment Agency added.