AN angler from York netted almost £6,000 to help children with life-threatening illnesses.

Stan Britton, 85, organised a charity fish-in to raise funds for When You Wish Upon A Star - a charity that makes terminally ill children's dreams come true.

Hundreds of anglers took part in the sponsored weekend-long event at Elvington Lake in June and helped to reel in £5,725 for the children's charity.

It was the fourth time Stan has run the event, which also featured family entertainment including a car-boot sale, tombola, raffle, a beer tent and a pie and peas supper. "I was really pleased with how much we raised," said Stan. "The charity was overjoyed because we have never done it for them before. Everyone was keen to raise money for it and people came from all over Yorkshire."

Stan has over the last three years raised about £25,000 for Macmillan Cancer Relief through the charity fish-in.