Officials in Tayside have launched a new website in a bit to attract even more anglers to the region.

Aimed at boosting the lucrative short-break market, www.anglingintayside.co.uk describes the lochs, river systems and types of fishing available in Perthshire, Angus and around the city of Dundee.

There are sections on game, stillwater trout, coarse and sea angling, and advice for anglers with a forum for visitors to offer their own comments and experiences.

Richard Dickson, chairman of the Angling in Tayside group, said: “We have such a wonderful variety of fishing in some of the world’s best locations but it has been difficult to advertise our wares globally.

“This web site allows us to do just that as well as get information to people a little closer to home quickly and easily. At the moment, anglers spend around £ 12m here every year, accounting for 17% of the entire market in Scotland. We believe that once people have seen the magnificent locations we have to offer, such as the world famous River Tay, those already impressive figures will leap still further.”

The Angling in Tayside initiative, which is funded by Scottish Enterprise Tayside and supported by Perth & Kinross Council, Angus Council and Angus & Dundee and Perthshire Tourist Boards was established in 2001 to promote angling related tourism in the region.

Other activities it has carried out include the Angling in Tayside guidebook, launched in April 2001 and available in Tourist Information Centres and fishing tackle shops throughout the area.