Angling club warns of poachers at Rosie pond in Wepre Park

Connah's Quay Angling Club says it has encountered five incidents in the last week of people attempting to steal fish from the Rosie pond in Wepre Park - the latest of which occurred on Wednesday morning.

The alleged perpetrators are said to be of Eastern European origin and are using fishing nets to capture the fish.

Fish scales were found on discarded netting in Wepre Park.

The Rosie pond operates on a catch and return basis - with it being illegal to not return the fish back into the pond once they've been caught.

And James Davies, Connah's Quay Angling Club treasurer, is urging people to be vigilant of any suspicious activity.

He said: "If anyone sees anything untoward - especially people fishing using nets - please call 999 and report immediately to the police as a theft is likely taking place.

"On all five occasions over the last week people have said it involved Eastern European people who are trying to catch the fish to eat - as is the norm in the countries they come from.

"We try to educate people as much as we can about the fishing rules in the UK - we have been handing out leaflets which are available in several different languages and things like that.

"But ultimately it's a crime and we need to try and stamp it out."

A North Wales Police spokesperson said: "We received a call at 9.35am this (Wednesday) morning, reporting issues with possible illegal fishing and poaching at Wepre Park in Connahs Quay.

"The incident has been brought to the attention of our Rural Crime Team, and our enquiries are ongoing."

Discarding netting found near the Rosie pond in Wepre Park.