But then he received a call from a fishing friend to tell him his dinner had broken the British record by a massive 11oz. Despite photographic evidence and a sworn statement, the British Record Fish Committee have refused to award Dave the prize.

Bosses said he would have taken the record had he kept the catch in his freezer until they could verify it. He said: "I suppose it's a bit of a funny story, really. It was my second big catch of the day, but the first one snapped my line.

"'I've caught big fish before - a 20Ib pike from Chasewater reservoir - but this was a once-in-a- lifetime experience.