Eight anglers have been fined more than £3,000 for fishing illegally in Norfolk. 

Seven of the men were caught fishing without a licence and one man was seen fishing bream - which is against the law.

The men were caught fishing illegally at Postwick Reach on the River Yare, Taswood Lakes in Flordon, Roughton Fishery, Aldeby Hall Lakes, Cobbleacre Lakes at Hevingham and Billingford Lakes at Swanton Morley.

The fines imposed ranged from £191 to £443, including a victim surcharge ranging from £16 to £88. 

READ MORE: Anglers warned as fishing on open waters now illegal until summer

All eight were ordered to pay £135 in costs each and the total fines were £3,094.

Lesley Robertson, enforcement team leader at the Environment Agency said: "These cases show we take illegal fishing seriously and won't hesitate to pursue offenders through the courts where anglers break the rules.

"Anyone found fishing illegally may face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.

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"All anglers need a valid Environment Agency fishing licence.

"The current price of an adult 12-month trout and coarse three-rod fishing licence is £53.70 and not having one proved very costly for these eight men."

The Environment Agency has urged anybody with information regarding illegal fishing to contact them via 0800 807060. 

The eight men fined

Gary Auger, of Parr Road, Haverhill, was caught fishing without a licence on June 10 2023 at Taswood Lakes in Flordon. 

Stuart Lawn, of Bluebell Road, North Walsham, was caught fishing without a licence on July 30 2023 at Roughton Fishery in Roughton. 

Aurimas Tazius, of Kipling Avenue, Tilbury removed bream contrary to the byelaw on August 22 2023 at Postwick Reach on the River Yare.

David Denison, of The Walks, Loddon, was caught fishing without a licence on August 31 2023 at Postwick Reach on the River Yare. 

Lewis Buxton and Adrian Crowe, both of Beccles Road, Gorleston, were caught fishing without a licence on September 17 2023 at Aldeby Hall Lakes in Aldeby.

Matthew Grant, of Bramble Break, Eccles-on-Sea, was caught fishing without a licence on September 24 2023 at Cobbleacre Lakes in Hevingham. 

Damien Howard of Smeeth Road, Marshland St James, was caught fishing without a licence on October 29 2023 at Billingford Lakes in Swanton Morley.