CASTLE Howard Lake has been forced to close to anglers after cormorants decimated the Yorkshire venue’s stocks.

The picture postcard day ticket venue used to be famed for its vast bream shoals and excellent pike sport, and was regularly featured in magazines such as Improve Your Coarse Fishing.

However, according to estate manager Duncan Peake, the quality of fishing has collapsed under pressure from fish-munching cormorants.

Peake told Angler’s Mail that he feels that if the cormorant problem is not taken more seriously by the authorities, he sees little future for stillwater fisheries in the UK.