Amy Silk, 13, and Lorna Bishop, 16, who attend Canon’s House children’s home in Devizes, were among 28 young fishing fans at the Fishing 4 Schools Champions Awards at the House of Commons recently.

At the ceremony on October 27 both girls received a medal and certificate from Countryside Alliance chairman Kate Hoey MP and Fishing 4 Schools programme director Charles Jardine.

The two girls got involved through the home on Bellevue Road, which provides short-term residential breaks for young people with a severe learning disability or life limiting illness.

Carer Jane Dowdeswell said: “Lorna did four sessions with Fishing 4 Schools and got a great deal of enjoyment out of the experience.”

Amy said: “It was really fun and I enjoyed catching the fish. It was great.”

Fishing 4 Schools is an educational campaign run by The Countryside Alliance Foundation. It provides short angling courses at schools across the country, aimed at 14 to 18-year-olds who might not respond to traditional classroom-based learning.

The school nominated pupils who gained most from the scheme in the past year.