Nun Sister Lena may look like a fish out of water as she sits on the seashore with her rod and line but to her fellow fishermen she is just one of the gang.

Like Maria in The Sound Of Music, Sister Lena is not your typical nun.

On Sunday mornings she can be found fishing - not for souls to save - but for soles of the more fishy kind.

She sits serenely in her black habit, ignoring the stares and occasional sniggers of passers-by as she dangles her rod in the sea off the breakwater at Brighton Marina.

The fishing nun makes an appearance most weekends and two years on the regular fishermen there consider her one of their own.

When she hooks anything too big to haul in herself, they are quick to lend a helping hand.

On days when the fish are refusing to bite, they have been known to offer the Sister part of their own catch - ensuring the nuns at nearby convent St Benedict's don't miss out on a nice fish dinner.

The 63-year-old has been a member of the convent in Kemp Town, Brighton, for six years.

Her love for the sea began as a child in Singapore, where her family used to take her deep sea fishing.

When she moved to England as a teenager she gave up the hobby, until she spied an unused fishing rod lying around one day on convent property.

After asking the permission of her Mother Superior, she took herself down to the sea.

Now she augments the convent's menu by bringing back flounder, mackerel and garfish for the Sisters to enjoy.

She said: "I don't normally catch much but the people around me are very friendly and kind.

"It's mackerel season at the moment but I've not caught any so far.

"People who go out in the boats get a lot of fish and say I should go out there too but I'm happy on the shore.

"One man came back and when he saw I didn't have anything he gave me a bag full of about 40 mackerel.

"I was trying to carry the heavy bag back to the convent and a family saw me and offered to carry it home for me. It was very kind of them so I offered them four mackerel."

The fishermen say Sister Lena may be taking her vow of modesty a bit too far.

Dave Grinham, who runs The Tackle Box - where people pay to go fishing on the breakwater - said: "She's very good at it and catches loads of fish in all weathers. She comes down all through the winter so she's a real tough cookie. She was still catching mackerel last December, even though the mackerel season is really over by the end of October.

"A lot of people don't believe it when they first see her and you watch them do a double take.

"Some of the fishermen go over, give her a fish and tell her to say a prayer for them. They're all offering her these fish in case it might save them from their sins.

"Then everyone walking past sees this great big pile of fish behind her and think she's the best fisherman here. They must suspect she's getting a little help from above.

"We give her free fishing - you can't really charge someone in her position can you?"

Dave admits the fishermen tone down their salty language in the Sister's presence but says she takes the inevitable "loaves and fishes" quips in good spirits.

He said: "We could do with a few more of them down here. We've told her to bring some of the younger sisters along to join her.

"We all think she's a real sweetie."

Sister Lena said: "I enjoy the environment. You go out and enjoy the air, it's healthy and people talk to you. It does people good just to relax and enjoy God's creation."