WILDLIFE living near Clackmannanshire's fishing hot spots is being put in danger by messy anglers leaving behind fishing tackle.

Local fishing areas, Tullibody's Delph Pond in particular, are proving to be particularly popular in the sunny summer weather but the mess left behind is steadily increasing.

Clackmannanshire's principal ranger Euan Hills says he has seen swans decapitated by discarded line and ducks that have to be put down after swallowing hooks.

Mr Hills told the Advertiser, "We regularly get calls of swans with hooks going down their throat. The only way to remove them is by a vet cutting the swan's neck open but sadly they rarely survive this sort of procedure and have to be put down - it is a pretty awful way to die." It isn't just discarded hooks, the fishing line itself, often cut after becoming entangled, can become a danger for pondlife.

Mr Hills continued, "The line is made of plastic and can last for hundreds of years.

"It can get wrapped around ducks wings so they can't fly and end up starving.

"The consequences are horrendous to wildlife, I have had a swan that decapitated itself with fishing line." He added, "The general litter at our sites is increasing and people don't realise what can result from this. I'm not saying don't fish but people should fish responsibly and take their rubbish home with them." Tullibody's community cop, PC Alison Waddell, said she had received several calls over youngsters fishing at Delph Pond but added there are no local bye-laws to prevent fishing there.

She added, "The issue is over leaving stuff behind and the ducks and swans having had the line wrapped around their legs. We want to make people aware of the implications of leaving fishing gut behind and ask them to tidy up after themselves." Clackmannanshire Council's sustainability portfolio holder Eddie Carrick said the Delph Pond is designated as a local 'breathing place' - a beauty spot for the whole area to enjoy.

Mr Carrick went on, "A lot of improvements have been carried out over the past few years, many of which have encouraged more wildlife to the pond and its surroundings.

"I'm concerned to hear that anglers have not been clearing up and I would ask that anglers ensure they take their discarded line, used hooks, weights and floats with them when they leave. As well as being a danger to wildlife, these could also injure other people enjoying the area."