CARELESS litterbugs who discard everything from fishing lines to plastic bottles have been blamed for an alarming rise in the number of wildlife casualties.

Figures reported by the RSPCA today paint a worrying picture of animals having to be rescued after becoming entangled in the leftovers of consumer culture.

The North-East and Yorkshire region has one of the worst records, with double the national increase and a number of litter blackspots.

Water birds, hedgehogs and foxes are the most common victims.

The extent of the problem has prompted the RSPCA to launch a campaign urging people to dispose of their rubbish properly.

RSPCA superintendent for the North-East and Yorkshire Dave Millard said the number of animals rescued or collected with litter-related injuries had risen by almost 47 per cent, with 624 victims last year.

This compares with a national increase of 23.5 per cent, with more than 7,000 animals suffering.

Supt Millard said: "Not only is this distressing for the animals, but also for the RSPCA officers who are spending more and more time dealing with incidents which are so easily avoidable.

"If people thought carefully before they dumped their rubbish, many animals would be saved from injury and death, and the time spent rescuing these animals could be spent helping other animals in distress."

In one of the most recent incidents, a cygnet had to be rescued from the lake at Ropner Park, in Stockton, last week after it became caught by a fishing hook and line. An RSPCA inspector waded into the lake and managed to grab the baby swan, which was treated by a vet before it was released.

In 1999, a duck in Darlington's South Park was seen with a hypodermic sticking out of its neck for more than a month, evading RSPCA inspectors before eventually dislodging the needle itself.

The charity has identified Ellison Bank, in Peterlee, Rawcliffe Lake, in York, and Killingworth Lake, North Tyneside, as being among the worst spots for litter in the region.

Its Lethal Litter campaign, which is launched today in the wake of release of the figures, recommends a series of basic steps to make rubbish less dangerous to animals.

They include cutting open the plastic loops holding drinks cans together and taking unwanted fishing line and hooks home.

Read more about the Animalwatch campaign here.