More than 300 miles (483km) of canals across England and Wales will be opened up to anglers after British Waterways (BW) unveiled plans to increase the number of licensed locations.

A total of 122 previously unlicensed angling sites will be available as part of the Waterway Wanderers scheme, which has launched today (15 April). The initiative covers areas not already licensed to local clubs and offers annual adult permits for £20, while members of the Angling Trust will be entitled to a £10 reduction.

John Harding, who will administer the BW scheme, said: "Waterways Wanderers plugs the gaps between those stretches of waterway which aren't currently being let to clubs. This scheme will make fishing canals much easier."