FISHERMEN are being urged to be more careful to prevent more scenes like this on Northwich's waterways.

Guardian reader Peter Friston, from Leftwich, photographed this juvenile mute swan with discarded fishing tackle wrapped around its beak on the River Weaver at Kingsmead.

Officers were called to rescue the swan.

Nadine Pengilly, RSPCA officer, said it was an incident that was far too common.

"Fishermen will cast a line into the river, it will get stuck on something and they cut the line and leave it in the water," she said.

"It's a nightmare and also because it's quite thin you don't necessarily see it until it's too late for the swan.

"You can be called out to a lethargic swan and it turns out it's got fishing line caught round its neck."

Nadine said a lot of birds also get tangled up in fishing line caught in trees.

"If you're going to cut fishing line then at least get some of it, most of it or all of it, that would be great," she said.

Nadine said that the majority of fishermen were responsible and did take care of the environment – in terms of general litter as well as fishing line.

"The problem is the young lads that go and have a few beers, throw the cans at the side, chuck their rubbish away and leave sweetcorn all over everywhere," she said.

"Hedgehogs or foxes come out and the cans cut their noses.

"Cans cause a lot of damage, especially if they are left and rot, then they're really sharp.

"Every day there are so many problems from litter, if only people could just take their rubbish home.

"Every day is a losing battle when it comes to litter."