THIS seagull had a lucky escape - after becoming entangled in fishing line along the shore at Felixstowe.

THIS seagull had a lucky escape - after becoming entangled in fishing line along the shore at Felixstowe.

People on the beach at Landguard nature reserve spotted the poor bird in difficulty and leapt to its rescue.

The nylon line had got caught around the creature's body and wings - and it had to be held firmly while the line was cut away and removed and it could then be put back safely into the sea.

Landguard is a popular place for anglers but there have been concerns in the past at line being lost, often snapping and snagging on rocks or debris on the seabed, and becoming a danger to wildlife.

Sam Wilding, fisheries officer at the Marine Conservation Society, said birds which became tangled in line often died because they could no longer fly and drowned.

“Often the line will snap and be lost and then wash up later. The birds come up to the tide line to scavenge and then their beaks and feet will get tangled up,” he said.

“Most anglers do clear up their equipment and dispose of broken line properly but there are always a few who don't or who lose line accidentally and cannot recover it.”

Emma Snowden, the society's litter project officer, said: “Entanglement can be a real danger for wildlife.

“Our Beachwatch litter survey last year found 13.8 per cent of the litter collected and recorded from beaches around the whole coast was from commercial or recreational fishing.”

Were you involved in the rescue of the bird - or have you seen similar incidents? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk