ANGLERS are being urged to take care with their tackle following the deaths of two cygnets strangled by fishing lines thoughtlessly dumped in the River Stour at Christchurch.

The two young swans died within days of each other on the Stour near the Jumpers area of the town.

In both cases a fishing line had got wound round the bird's necks and they had been unable to free themselves.

Gary Foyle, beaches and open spaces officer at Christchurch council, said: "It's very distressing to find these birds which have died in a particularly painful way.

"We would ask all anglers to act more responsibly and take any redundant fishing gear home with them and not discard it in the river."

Many injured swans were also found over the summer months near Mudeford Quay as a result of swallowing discarded crabbing hooks or getting caught in lines, despite signs asking people not to throw these things in the water.

Mr Foyle said: "In many cases the swans' tongues are damaged, making it difficult for them to feed themselves.

"When we find injured birds they are taken to the swan rescue sanctuary where they can be rehabilitated before being released back into the wild," he added.

"However, that wouldn't need to happen if people took a bit more care."