SWINDON angler Bryan Jarrett has landed the biggest catch of his career after being crowned British Carp Angling champion.

Jarrett, co-owner of Hinders Carp Angling Centre in Moredon Garden Centre, fought off the challenge of Britain's top carp anglers to net the title.

Fishing the two-man competition with Dave Gawthorn from Wales, the pair qualified for the final after winning through the qualifying rounds which had run since April.

But victory in the 48-hour final didn't come easy for Jarrett and Gawthorn after being drawn on one of the toughest swims at Milton Keynes' Dove Cote Lake.

However, months of preparation and practice for the final paid off for the angling duo, albeit after a tense wait in the final 18 hours of competition.

The pair netted three carp weighing 17lbs 3oz, 15lbs 15 and 15lbs for a total bag of 48lbs.

But their last catch was at 6pm on Saturday night leaving a tense 18-hour wait to see if they had clinched the title.

"We had our last fish at 6pm on Saturday night and nothing after that," explained Jarrett.

"We had one of the toughest swims in the competition and the fish were not staying to feed there.

"It was a very tense finish having to wait throughout the night, but fortunately we had just done enough to win."

Jarrett and Gawthorn sneaked victory by a 6lb 3oz margin but considering the swim they were drawn at, the Swindon angler believes they have proved themselves as the true British champions.

"Our hearts sank when we heard where we had been drawn. We thought all the months of preparations were for nothing," revealed Jarrett.

"But we decided to give it our best shot and fished the swim very quietly because we knew the fish were not going to feed for long periods there. Fortunately it paid off.

"It is the biggest thing you can achieve in carp angling and bearing in mind where we were drawn we had something to prove and we did.

"We are over the moon, there is nothing more we have to prove in the sport.

"But the title has never been retained the following year we will have a go for that next year although we won't be taking it as seriously."

Jarrett, 43, and Gawthorn, 37, have both been angling for more than 30 years and the Swindon man is the second angler from Hinders to ever win the title following Mike Winstone's win in 2000.