Manx Wild Bird Aid says that 2021 has been the worst year yet for problems caused by fishing gear.

The charity posted a video online that shows a seagull struggling to fly while it battles with fishing lines wrapped around its legs.

It said: ’Yesterday evening we had three call-outs about three different birds tangled in fishing line in Peel alone.

’This bird has his legs tangled together, another has a hook embedded in his foot and line wrapped around his leg, and a young gull had a hook through his beak and line wrapped around his leg and wing.

’Two of the birds could not be caught and are still suffering. We will keep trying to catch them.

’Last week a cormorant in Peel died due to fishing line around his legs, we had to have one young gull euthanised [because] he swallowed a massive hook that X-rays showed would be impossible for our vet to remove without killing the bird, and another young gull died with a hook lodged in his stomach.’

Founding member Barbara Cole told Manx Radio that the charity had taken in 188 gulls so far this year.

She said: ’We’re all volunteers, we’ve just asked for more volunteers, because we’re up to 1,111 birds so far this year, the most we’ve ever done is 1,220 in a year.

’We don’t want to break records with birds because it’s tiring, it’s exhausting. It’s been a very busy summer.’