Matt Micallef, who lives in Didcot and works at Acorn Angling, has caught a massive chub which could break the national record, writes Andy Webber.

The chub, which came from a small local lake that is connected to the Thames, pulled the needle on Matt's Avon scales straight down to 9lb 4oz.

If the scales are proved accurate, the fish is a new national record, smashing the previous mark of 8.10.0.

Matt was fishing lake with the intention of catching some pike, but having had no success, he spotted the huge chub and decided to have a go for it.

He quickly changed the rig and flicked out a piece of bread which the fish accepted.

The fish was photographed and witnessed, while Marsh Pratley and Phil Smith were contacted and the wheels have been put in motion to claim the record.

I am going over next week to see Matt and hopefully, I will be able to report that a new record has been ratified.