Basildon Matchman Del Smee got into the festive spirit by winning the Gloucester Park Christmas Fayre Open with a cracking 32lb haul.

Not only did he take the lions share of the pools money, he also went home with a bumper Christmas hamper.

Smee fished the Basildon venue's cockle bank where he netted three carp totalling 19lb 4oz, before changing tactics to add a further 12lb 12oz of bream and skimmers.

His first carp fell to waggler tactics, with the rest of his catch taken on the pole.

The rest of the catches were dominated by silver fish, with only three other carp brought to the scales.

However, the roach fishing was exceptional from both sides of the lake, with an 11lb 4oz roach haul only good enough for 12th place.

Second place went to Wickford Angling Centre squad member Peter Thomas with a superb 28lb 12oz mixed haul of fish.

He also fished a pole from the cockle bank where he netted one tench, an eel, a few bream, and more than 20 pounds of quality roach.

Paul Stanley took third place with an 18lb 10oz 8dr catch of bream and roach, again from the cockle bank.