The charity said the swans' injuries were 'horrific'

Yorkshire Swan Rescue Hospital, near York, said many of the birds it treated were injured by getting caught up in discarded fishing line.

Some were also poisoned by swallowing lead weights used for fishing before they were banned.

Local anglers' said it was not always possible to retrieve tackle.

Dan Sidley, co-founder of the charity, said they had boxes full of discarded fishing line and lead weights that had been removed from swans.

Lead weight ban

He said: "Many of the swans that are brought in here die because they have ingested lead weights and it's horrific.

"The amount of line we take off these swans is sickening and it does need to be addressed."

Bob Hutchinson, from the York and District Anglers, said: "It's not a case of anglers leaving tackle or losing tackle or throwing it away.

"It's quite expensive so they tend not to throw it away.

"It's unfortunate that sometimes a bird does get hurt but anglers do try to retrieve the tackle but sometimes they are not able to and unfortunately that's where the problem occurs."