A police officer who spent five years setting up a fishing lake for children has been given and award for his work.

Worcester Park PCSO Gary Weaving has been given a Met Police environmental efficiency for his work setting up a fishery for people living in the Hamptons estate.

The facility in Mayflower Park gives children the chance to fish in the wetlands area near the estate and learn about the environment while adults can also book time on the area's new pontoons and landings.

PCSO Weaving, with the help of local volunteers and school children, built seven pondside fishing platforms, tended bankside vegetation, dragged weeds out of the ponds and built a footbridge and a lockable gate as well as a ramp to the bank so disabled people can go down.

The officer was given his award during a ceremony at New Scotland Yard last week.

He said he was pleased and proud to accept the commendation and added: "I am really looking forward to the school summer holidays when we will give the first groups of local schoolchildren free fishing tuition and environmental awareness talks.

"I really hope it helps them to appreciate and respect not only these wetlands, but also other wildlife areas and parks in the future." 

The fishery opened earlier this year and local schools as well as people living in the Hamptons will be given leaflets detailing how they can make use of it.