It looks like the barbel record for the River Severn may have been beaten with the capture of this beauty weighing 17lb 9oz.

The fish fell to Swindon based river speicalist Mark Doherty (41), who was feeder fishing with meat on the mighty Midlands waterway and did well to beat it using 5lb line and a size 14 hook.

The river record was held for many years by Howard Maddocks with a fish of 16lb 3oz, but currently stands at 16lb 11oz. There seems little doubt about the weight and Mark, who caught the river just right and landed ten more barbel in the session, looks set to claim the new target.

The catch has resulted in Mark gaining sponsorship from Worcester Angling Centre.