A BOSNIAN fishing fanatic who fled his war-torn country aged just 12 is hoping to reel in the punters in his new home town.

Admir Rusidovic, 28, escaped the former Yugoslav republic in 1992 and came to England as a refugee with his parents and brother.

Now, after winning £5,000 in a business competition, he has fulfilled his ambition of opening a fishing tackle shop in Reddish, Stockport.

His passion for angling started when his father Osman used to take him out on the lakes near his home village of Gradacac.

Admir said: "Bosnia has really nice countryside and when I was five my father took me fishing on the local lake and it stayed with me. It is a really relaxing sport."

Gorton

Admir, who lives in Gorton, developed a fishing website while at university then entered the New East Manchester Business Enterprise competition.

He produced a business plan and negotiated his way through to the final, where he came second after being quizzed by a panel of judges including former Dragons Den star Rachel Elnaugh.

The prize money helped Amir open Any Tackle, on Gorton Road, earlier this month and he also hopes to organise fishing holidays for children, possibly to Bosnia.

He said: "I am mad about fishing and I think this came through during the three stages of the competition.

"The last two years have seen Any Tackle jump from paper into reality and, for me, it's been an unforgettable experience."