Schoolboy Christopher Harris may miss out on his chance to claim a new British record because he refused to kill a magnificent 11lb thick lipped mullet.

The fish – some 15oz over the long standing British record – was taken while dinghy fishing with his dad Dave against the pontoons at Essex marina, Wallasey Island, a noted mullet hotspot.

Under normal circumstances anglers need to kill sea fish to claim British records. However, Dave has spoken to the National Federation of Sea Anglers and they have said they will ‘review’ the claim.

Billericay, Essex boy Chris brought the fish ashore, but could not find another witness at the secluded spot.

In the end he photographed and returned the fish alive because he did not want to kill it. The scales have already been checked and have been verified as weighing accurately.

The fish was Chris’s only bite of the session and fell for bread.