A WARRINGTON angler is celebrating conquering the world as part of a successful England team.

Harry Billing, who lives in Culcheth, was part of the England Veterans Angling team that won team gold at the World Angling Championships for Veterans in the Czech Republic.

However, there was more success for 61-year-old Billing as he won the individual event with an overall catch of just over 60kgs while fishing in the River Labe near Pardubice.

He finished well clear of Hungary’s Gabor Timar, while England teammate Mark Downes took the bronze medal.

A regular fisher on Partridge Lakes near Culcheth, Billing couldn’t quite believe his success as he returned home from the championships.

“It’s the first year I’ve been eligible for the vets team so to win individual gold is just unbelievable, it hasn’t quite sunk in,” he said.

“We expected to do well as we had a very strong squad but we were still very pleased to win the team prize.

“I managed to win both days to take the individual award as well so I’m absolutely thrilled.”