A cheeky band of anglers are flaunting regulations in the lake of one of the borough’s parks and are helping themselves to its underwater bounty.

David Spencer, 53, of Caernarvon Drive, Clayhall, has repeatedly spotted the opportunist group plucking fish out of nearby Claybury Park’s lake over the last two months.

Mr Spencer, a keen fisherman himself, has visited the park for seven years where he walks his dog with his wife.

And he said he was “appalled” to see people taking advantage of the summer evenings to fish there between 6pm and 10pm.

Fishing is banned in lakes in all parks and open spaces run by Vision, Redbridge Council’s culture and leisure arm, apart from in Fairlop Waters and Hainault Forest Country Park.

Mr Spencer said: “They’ve started coming in more and more.

“My point is why should people pay for rod licences and everything else and abide by the law and these people don’t and they’re fishing for their dinner.”

He said the numbers have grown to up to 12 people fishing at a time and said on Thursday, two women and two boys were using canes and a line to fish.

About 20 fish have been taken from the lake in nets over two occasions, according to Mr Spencer.

Carp, roach, perch and rudd can be found in the lake.

Mr Spencer raised the problem with Vision’s conservation team on May 28.

In an emailed reply, Francis Castro, Vision’s senior nature conservation ranger, said his team was aware of the problem “as it has been raised previously” and is in contact with the borough’s Community Police team.

A Vision spokesman said: “The [police] team regularly patrol parks and will be keeping an eye on this issue as part of their regular patrols of Claybury and will enforce where necessary.

“If visitors are ignoring the byelaws they could face prosecution.”

Vision is also going to erect “No Fishing” signs in the park.