This year's weather even warmer - claim

Many pike anglers think last year's sustained mild weather had a lot to do with poor results, as at times the seasons didn't seem to know what they were doing.

Christmas and New Year saw many struggle as dour, foggy days made way for a spell of mild, stromy weather.

While 2006 was reckoned to be the hottest year since records began in Britain 350 years ago, this year looks set to be even warmer experts said today. Click here for Independent weather story.

Mild weather has also led to "a plague of swans" and calls for a cull, according to the same paper.