Some of Ireland's top anglers are currently toughing it out in Tuscany at the 2011 World Championship of Shore Angling.

Team member Joe Byrne, from Courtown in Co Wexford, told the Gorey Guardian that the Irish are "in with a serious chance".

"Ireland won the World Championships last year [in South Africa], so there's a little pressure there. We'll just have to catch a few fish!"

The contest will take place over two-and-a-half weeks on Italy's Mediterranean coastline.