The RSPCA has received 405 calls about animals affected by litter in Cornwall over the past five years.

Consequently the charity is urging people who are going out more since lockdown restrictions were eased to ensure they are taking their litter home with them or dispose of it properly and responsibly.

Across the UK, the animal welfare charity has had more than 21,600 reports of animals injured or caught in litter over that same period.

Over the past five years (2015-2019), the RSPCA’s emergency hotline in England and Wales has received 6,466 calls about animals affected by general litter - like tin cans, plastic bottles and elastic bands.

There have also been 15,183 reports relating to animals injured or caught in angling litter.

There have been a further 12,904 reports of animals and birds trapped in netting.

The charity’s frontline officers are regularly called to help cats, birds and wildlife who have got themselves tangled in netting, injured in fishing litter or stuck in rubbish, whether it’s a fox with a tin can stuck on its head or a seal with fishing netting wrapped around its neck cutting into the flesh.

Head of the RSPCA’s wildlife team Adam Grogan said: “Our staff are dealing with thousands of incidents every year where animals and birds have been impacted by litter - and they’re the ones that we know of. I’m sure for every animal we’re able to help there are many that go unseen, unreported and may even lose their lives.

“Litter is one of the biggest hazards our wildlife faces today - and it’s something that’s very easy to resolve. That’s why we’re calling on the public to take extra care to clear up after they’ve been out for a walk or enjoyed a picnic in the woods.

Waterfowl and seals are often admitted to the RSPCA’s four wildlife centres with nasty wounds caused by fishing hooks, line and netting.

Adam added: “Animals who get their heads or necks stuck in litter can suffer severe injuries as they struggle to break free and can even suffocate, while others will slowly grow weaker and weaker as they try to hunt or find food or water.

“Others will get fishing line or netting cutting deep into their skin, affecting circulation and with wounds becoming seriously infected. These hazards can very quickly become a matter of life or death for these animals and action is urgently needed to tackle this problem head-on. It’s up to every one of us to do our bit in the war against litter.”

“If members of the public see discarded litter we would encourage them to pick it up safely and put it in the bin, remembering to wash their hands after. Their action could save an animal’s life.”