The injured swan in Newport

Fishermen in Shropshire are being urged to clean up their act after a swan was left with a three-pronged barbed hook embedded in its neck.

The latest swan caught up in fishing wire was a cygnet from the family on Newport’s canal. RSPCA inspector Jackie Hickman said: “I am really annoyed that this young bird has been subjected to this painful and frightening ordeal, all because someone was incapable of cleaning up after a day’s fishing.

“People fishing need to be more careful and they must be aware of the dangers their actions can have on wildlife.”

With two defensive parent birds to contend with, Inspector Hickman managed to catch the injured cygnet and took it to RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich.

The hook was removed and the cygnet was given an antibiotic injection but was back on the canal within two hours.

Inspector Hickman said dealing with incidents relating from “thoughtless fishermen” was time wasting.

She added: “The RSPCA is a charity totally reliant on public donations and all too frequently we are being called out to rescue birds due to thoughtless fishermen.

“This rescue happened on a bank holiday weekend when our resources were stretched to the limit.

“This bird suffered needlessly and I urge all fishermen to please clean up any discarded fishing line and hooks after a day’s fishing.”

This comes after a spate of other fishing tackle incidents. Last month the RSPCA was called out to a male and female swan in Madeley in Telford after the pair were entangled in fishing wire.

After several attempts staff could not catch the female swan, who proved too quick on her feet. After a week of repeated visits, inspectors eventually managed to net the bird and remove the hook.

Again last month a young swan on the River Severn, near Cressage, had a hook and fishing line stuck down his throat while a young female swan at the Weir in Shrewsbury swallowed a fishing hook and injured her eye in the process.

Aside from making sure to pick up their tackle after fishing, anglers could also prevent swans the agony by changing their fishing line, experts say. They have been told that using an 8lb line instead of a 40lb one, will pass through the swan’s gut without any difficulty.

Anyone who notices a bird in distress or has information on these incidents can call the RSPCA National Cruelty and Advice Line on 0300 1234999.

By Jason Lavan