A YOUNG fisherman from Petersfield who has spent much of his childhood perfecting his techniques, fishing from the Heath lake, has been selected to fish for England.

Craig White, who was 18 at the beginning of the month, will be part of the England junior team representing the country in the world angling championships in Portugal in July, competing against 12 countries from around the globe.

A former junior member of Petersfield and District Angling Club, the honour is third time lucky for Craig, who lives with his family in Queens Road.

Craig, who has a collection of more than 80 trophies won in national and local fishing competitions, said he had worked hard for three years and was "over the moon" about his selection.

But he said: "It is a very competitive sport and it may take another 15 years before I will get the chance of another trial to fish for the senior team."

He thanked his friend Kenny Wright, who he said took him under his wing and gave him the chance to fish, as a junior, in an adult team.

A former pupil of The Petersfield School, Craig was one of only six fishermen to be selected from the 28 anglers taking part in the latest trial.

Craig, who left school two years ago and works at J.B. Corries, the fencing company in Petersfield, started fishing when he was 10, continuing the family tradition.

His dad, Mick, is also a keen fisherman but gave up to help his son make the most of his talents.

Both his father and mum, Karen, are bailiffs for Petersfield lake.

Mrs White told the Herald that she never thought Craig would get in the team.

"Most of them come from the north of England and Craig is the only one from the south of country to be included," she said.

She said Craig had earned his place in the team by his skill and commitment to the sport.

"He spends every night of the week adjusting his fishing gear and cleaning it and goes all over the country to fish."

News of Craig's success came on the weekend of the Petersfield and District Angling Club Junior Festival last week.

More than 12 young people and one dad took part in the open "teach-in" on the Saturday.

Club members were on hand to pass on their tips with the hope of bring new junior members to the club and further their knowledge in the sport of angling.

Sunday saw teams from Petersfield, Dorking, Polegate, Thatcham, Guildford and Farnborough competing in a junior team event.

Presenting the prizes was the mayor of Petersfield, John Crowhurst, helped by England's latest recruit, Craig White.