AN ACE angler has revealed his surprise after coming face-to-face with a razor-toothed piranha he caught in the River Thames in Marlow.

Richard Salmon, 38, captured the ferocious freshwater fish during a routine fishing trip for chub by Marlow Bridge - the same angling spot he has used since childhood.

The three inch long tropical terror, which are usually found in South America and hunt in packs, is now the graphic artist's prized possession in his freezer.

Mr Salmon said: “I caught it about two weeks ago on a normal day, with the same rod, the same bait and in the same spot I've been fishing in all my life.

“A few hours in I got quite a bite, reeled it in and that was when I realised that it wasn't a native fish. I was surprised because I only normally catch carp or pike.

“It's only three-to-four inches long and, to an extent, I was a little wary and careful how I pulled it off the line but it could only get your finger in its mouth, not your hand.”

Mr Salmon's amazing catch was featured in The Sun on Monday – but not until after a full grilling by the newspaper's editor, who thought something fishy may have been going on following the release of scare-fest movie Piranha 3D.

He said: “It has been a fun week or so and the reaction from friends and people has been unbelievable. Everyone who saw me in the paper has been brilliant.

“But the funny thing is, after The Sun's reporter had spoken to me, the editor rang me back and said 'so your name is Salmon and you caught a piranha in the Thames in the same week of the release of Piranha 3D – are you winding me up?'

“I just laughed and reassured him - It wasn't my idea to go to the papers but my friends said I couldn't not tell anyone. It's not everyday you catch a piranha in the Thames.”

Mr Salmon is due on air for an interview with BBC Radio Berkshire today but says he is looking forward to “things going back to normal”.

He then plans to toss the ruthless river-dweller into the recycling bin. “It's not going on my wall or anything, I've got plenty of photos and memorabilia though”, he added.