A MELKSHAM union leader has been elected to the top job in coarse fishing.

Terry Fell, 59, will be at the head of the 300 plus clubs and 23,000 members of the National Federation of Anglers after winning 60 per cent of the votes for president at the organisation's annual Conference in Wakefield.

Fell, a local magistrate and senior convener for the Transport and General Workers' union at Cooper-Avon Tyres, has spent the last two years as vice-president but is relishing the extra responsibility.

He said: "It is a great honour to have been given the position as it is something I have always been interested in doing.

"I will be representing a lot of people so it will be busy but hopefully I can help to make a difference.

"After being vice-president for two years it was a natural progression for me to become president and I am grateful to everyone who supported me."

Along with his vice-president, John Mitchell, from Hull, Fell will be visiting the NFA headquarters just outside Derby this weekend to discuss their plans for the next three years.

He said: "It is still early days but my main task has to be to make sure the interests of anglers are represented.

"Fishing is still the largest participant sport in England but with all the pressure there is on our water from environment agencies the worries of anglers need to be heard.

"We take issues on the environment very carefully and it is important we work with the various organisations.

"The standard of the water and the protection of the habitat are regular concerns but we are also interested in protecting these things."

A Devizes resident all his life, Fell's love affair with the sport began as a seven-year-old.

He believes part of the sport's appeal is its accessibility for all, particularly in towns like Devizes, where a canal is prominent.

He said: "Fishing is my great love. It is such a therapeutic sport and it gives a lot of enjoyment to a lot of people.

"It takes people out into the countryside where they can enjoy their beautiful surroundings.

"Fishing is very rewarding and as you are by the riverbank all your troubles seem to fade away."

When the national executive meets for the first time in May Fell will have five new faces on the committee.