THREE keen anglers have developed a new product to link hook and line they believe will revolutionise the sport and create hundreds of jobs in Northumberland.

The founders of Lynx Fishing have raised more than £1m to launch their rig link and a factory which will open next week in Alnwick with the capacity to turn out two million of them a year.

Andy Petherick, Alan Yates and Iain McGeary, who all have years of experience in the fishing tackle industry, have raised worldwide interest in the product which they say also has potential uses in the marine industry and the medical sector.

McGeary said: “This will revolutionise the fishing industry. So many fisherman lose their catch because the knots which hold their rig (hooks, swivels, weights etc) come undone or the line breaks. This product keeps the line 100% strong.

“Keeping your line from breaking is the holy grail of fishing.”

They launched the company in 2009 after chief executive Petherick was particularly plagued with the problem.

“Andy came up with the original idea. He was out fishing for eels in New Zealand and, as eels are quite aggressive and he hasn’t the best eyesight, he was finding it quite hard to tie the knots,” said McGeary.

“With our product, the line links straight to the rig through an alloy tube with no need for knots.”