The new Labour Party vice chair for the Environment has hit the ground running as, only a matter of hours of being appointed, Reading Borough Council and the Environment Agency have pulled out the stops to accomodate the incessant maggot immerser's request to install 4 new fishing platforms on the Thames.

Andy Went, a fisheries officer at the Environment Agency, said: "We are very happy to increase the accessibility for politicians interested in fishing. The platforms have been designed to hold up to 12 Anglers or Martin Salter's ego so we expect them to last for a few years." Graeme Hoskin, Reading's Lead Councillor for Culture and Sport, said: "If Martin wants anything from the council he knows he only has to ask and the good people of Reading will stump up the cash."

Martin Salter told us: "This is great news for me, er, Reading and their location in Hills Meadow means that I can spend even more time in my favourite constiuency. Where's that Evening Post photographer got to?"