Sam Hughes has received yet another major accolade by fishing his way into the England youth team after a tough qualifier against 30 of the UK's top young anglers at Gold Valley lakes in Surrey.

He will now take his place in the England World Angling Championship squad of five and represent his country in July this year.

Sam will travel to Slovenia to compete against the best anglers in the world on the River Sava, a deep, fast-flowing venue that makes the Wye look like a small stream.

According to reports it is full of fish but the 150-metre wide venue has depths up to over 35 feet, so they will take some finding.

The recognition comes after a string of high profile performances that have put Sam firmly on the angling map. Last year he won the Sky Sports Fish O' Mania final, netting a very useful £2,000.

He recently finished joint first in the Preston Intermediate festival at Whiteacres in Cornwall, where he fought back from a difficult draw on day one to take his place on the podium.

Last Friday (4th May), he was set to represent his local club, the Royal Forest of Dean AC, at the Garbolino 'Angler of the year' at Gold Valley, where he was one of the hot favourites to qualify for the final.

On Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday, he is contesting the Maver Classic Final at Larford lakes, where he will up against a star-studded field of highly-sponsored senior anglers.

For more, see this week's Beacon (9th May)