After an epic battle to reel it in, several other fishermen rushed to his aid to help him lift the beast onto a weighing frame and mat designed to support such beasts.

The scales shot up to a mighty 250lbs 2ozs - or 17.8 stones - sparking scenes of celebration on the river bank.

Not only is the catch the biggest of its kind in Europe, it is also the biggest species of wels catfish ever caught in the world.

It broke the previous European record which was another catfish that weighed 246lbs 14oz and was caught by French angler Christophe Dubreuil on Spain's River Ebro.

The specimen was netted by Roberto, 32, on the River Po at Mantova, northern Italy, before being released back into the water safe and well.