DORSET angler Paul Roberts admitted his legs “turned to jelly” after banking the world’s biggest mirror carp in France.

The 46-year-old Burton-based boat builder bagged The Scar at 94lb from Luke Moffatt’s infamous Le Graviers water near Dijon while on a week-long trip with Ringwood Tackle boss Richard Middleton.

And despite it being their first visit to the water, both men got in on the action with Middleton snaring the Brown Fish at 83lb.

Roberts, who works for Sunseeker in New Milton, told the Echo: “It took half-an-hour to get the fish to the net. It was a slow, dogged fight and, although there were no snags, I had to pull her back over the gravel bar and my heart was in my mouth.

“There are nine big girls in the lake and I knew it was one of them because of the fight.

“My torch was shining on the net as Richard netted it and I caught sight of the fish’s scar as it went over the spreader block. I knew then what fish it was and my legs went to jelly.

“Richard was made up with the Brown Fish and I was buzzing for him, but for me to step up the next night was unbelievable.”

Roberts fished four rods to a gravel bar, each with a snowman set-up and a 1kg scattering of boilies around the hook bait.

Incredibly, it was the duo’s first visit to Le Graviers and their first two captures were the Brown Fish and the Scar. Roberts also had carp to 44lb and 30lb during the session.

Roberts added: “Luke Moffatt came down and did all the treatment on The Scar and helped with the weighing.

“Everything is done in the water and you’re not allowed to take the fish out so I had to jump in the lake!

“But the fish are immaculate and their mouths are perfect so while there are a lot of rules at the lake, it’s worth it when you see the fish.”

The Scar was banked by Ambrose Smith in June and weighed in at a new world record 99lb.

Since that capture, though, the fish had spawned – leaving it a touch down on its record weight at 94lb.