THE salmon-fishing season began in earnest yesterday - and fishermen were making an early start.

The Environment Agency confirmed that anglers could begin to cast their lines to catch the respected game fish.

However, anglers will have to wait until Thursday, June 16 before they can take home their catch - all salmon have to be released back into the river after landing, said Dave Beresford, of Alan's Fishing Tackle Shop on Malvern Road, St John's.

"The best place in Worcester is the Diglis weir.

"I think they landed over a thousand fish down there last year," he said.

The season ends on Saturday, October 8.