Fisherman's favourite Angling Times has just undergone a costly revamp with the aim of getting more of its 800,000 readership involved in the content.

The overhaul is the first significant action by Bauer Consumer Media since it took over the Emap consumer magazine operations in Peterborough in a £1.14 billion deal early this year.

Managing director Rob Munro-Hall said: "The complete reinvention of the oldest, and one of the most famous titles within our portfolio is great news for Bauer in Peterborough, because it signals our intention to invest in re-launches, so that we can build on our market leading positions.

"The entire angling team has risen to this challenge – and the new Angling Times is testament to their expertise and creativity."

The new look magazine goes on sale today at its former cover price of £1.60.

The magazine was launched in 1953 and has become the bible for fishermen, selling more than 30 million copies during the last decade.

Mr Munro-Hall said that "considerable money and resources" had been invested in the redesign of Angling Times and it will be supported by a marketing campaign.

He added: "The Angling Times team has a good plan to make its newspaper and brand bigger – Bauer supports good ideas and creative people.

"The angling market is one of the biggest in terms of participants and Bauer now has market leaders in the coarse, sea and flyfishing sectors."

Its editor, Richard Lee, said that while the magazine would remain news focused, it would carry a new interactive Your Week section, linked to the title's website www.gofishing.co.uk and would seek to celebrate reader generated news and achievements, running up to 1,000 stories and pictures in each issue.

Mr Lee said: "The new Angling Times drives at the very heart of the biggest participation group in the sport – the pleasure angler.

"Angling Times has a 55-year history for breaking the big stories that affect every fisherman, but in an unprecedented step, the magazine will now feature 16 pages of reader news, views and catches – making us the only truly interactive fishing title in the market place."

He added: "The new Angling Times will be supported by the title's biggest ever marketing campaign, comprising high value cover gifts, web and e-mail advertising, and an extensive sampling campaign in key fisheries around the UK."

In addition, Angling Times' sister monthly title – UK Carp – will be included within Angling Times as a free gift, on the first Tuesday of every month.

The revamp follows hot on the heels of a redesign for the Trout and Salmon magazine, which was founded in 1955, and Bauer says new plans will be drawn up to refresh and reinvent other magazines within its portfolio.

Owner of Oundle-based angling centre Bluebell Lake, Tony Bridgefoot, said: "I think the magazine was due for a revamp.

"The feeling among the anglers here was that Angling Times had become bland and too tactical.