The RSPCA is highlighting the dangers of fishing litter after a Tawny owl was rescued by the charity when she became entangled in a discarded fishing line.

A member of the public spotted the poor owl dangling from a tree by her wing after the bird became impaled by the hook and stuck in fishing wire which was wrapped around a tree at Ladderedge Country Park, Newcastle Road, in Leek, on Tuesday, 25 May.

Inspector Jackie Hickman attended and managed to untangle the owl which was hanging upside down and looked very tired.

She took the bird to RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire for rehabilitation.

Jackie said: "This poor owl had her wing caught in discarded fishing wire and was just dangling from the tree and unable to free herself.

She had become tired and lethargic from the struggle to get free so I took her to our wildlife centre for some care.

"This highlights why it is so important that people dispose of their fishing litter properly so that animals like this poor owl don't suffer."

Last summer, the charity saw a 48% increase in incidents involving fishing litter between May and June.

The charity suspects that the easing of lockdown put in place by the pandemic, along with a spell of good weather, saw a rise in people taking up outdoor activities such as fishing, causing an excess of discarded angling litter, and is concerned that we will see the same picture this summer.

In the hope of preventing future casualties, those who enjoy fishing are being reminded of the dangers that are posed to wildlife from discarded equipment and encouraged to follow the Angling Trust's Take 5 campaign and make use of the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme to dispose of their waste tackle and line.

At RSPCA Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre, the hook and fishing wire was removed from the owl's wing and the bird was monitored for a few days before being released back into the wild on Friday 4 June at Ladderedge Country Park.