ANGLERS have won new talks on a proposed shake-up of fishing rules at Radipole Lake after they packed a meeting in Weymouth.

More than 30 anglers attended a session of Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's community regeneration and culture committee to protest against Royal Society for the Protection of Birds' proposals for the beauty spot.

Now councillors, anglers' representatives and RSPB staff will meet at 5pm on October 20 to thrash out their differences and agree on such measures as anglers acting as voluntary bailiffs at the lake.

Committee chairman David Harris said: "It is important for us find an agreement and a way of building up trust.

"We have got to have proper management of the lake."

The agreement for talks came as the RSPB proposed that it take on management of fishing rights at the lake under the renewal of its 35- year lease with the council to manage the nature reserve there.

The charity's proposals included spending money on the lake but also to reserve the right to end fishing completely.

Fishermen who stood up at the committee meeting to voice their fears included Stephen Redpath, Weymouth Angling Centre owner Andrew Selby, Matthew Burton, Simon Taylor, Alistair Hounsome from Top Floor Tackle in Dorchester and former voluntary bailiff Gary Robinson.

Mr Selby said that the number of fishing platforms had dropped from 30 to eight at the lake and warned that angling would end if the RSPB took over.

Mr Burton, who attended with his son Harry, added that he had been fishing for 10 years at the lake and did not want the opportunity taken away from his son for the future.

The RSPB proposals included taking control of the issuing of fishing permits, the introduction of a code of conduct and measures to protect the habitat and stop the lake from silting up.

RSPB regional reserves manager Steve Marshall, who attended with Weymouth reserve manager Keith Ballard, said the proposals were only in principle and that the details were to be finalised. He said: "In no way does the RSPB intend to stop fishing in Radipole Lake.

"We want to be positive and build a strong relationship with the council and the anglers."

He welcomed suggestions by anglers that they become involved by becoming bailiffs to police the lake and to form a Radipole Lake angling club.