Leeds nostalgia: Angler's catch of the day smashes pike record

Angler David Birkby, a cashier with a Leeds furnishing store, broke the River Ouse record for a pike for the second time in six years.

David, 49, created a new record for the river when he captured a giant 31lb specimen from Widdington on Ouse, raising the river’s best by 5lb.

A keen pike angler during the winter months, David, of Holt Farm Close, Leeds, first smashed the Ouse record with a pike he captured in 1981 and his recent record fish was just one in a remarkable series.

On the day that he hooked and landed “Jaws”, David also caught yet another massive fish which pushed the scales round to 25lb. just 30 minutes later.