An incredible week for huge barbel on rivers across the nation has seen this 17lb specimen top the list.

Nottingham’s Paul Mirfin admitted to being ‘on cloud nine’ after he smashed his personal best for the species with a pristine 17lb specimen.

Fishing on a stretch of the middle river, the 42-year-old, forklift driver banked the fish after he pre-baited with Trent Baits shrimp boilies and legered a 20mm bottom bait over the area.

“I’m a carp angler that enjoys some barbel fishing and I always fish for them in the Autumn as the big fish give me a real buzz. The battle this fish of-a-lifetime gave me was something I will never forget.”