The RSPCA is reminding people about the hazards of fishing litter after a buzzard was found hanging by her wing from a fishing line and hook.

The injured bird was brought to the Mallydams Wood Wildlife Centre in Hastings by a kind-hearted member of the public who discovered the bird in the Sandhurst area of Kent on December 6.

A vet at the centre removed the hook and wire from the bird, and an X-ray did not show any obvious injuries or fractures to her wing.

Simon Fathers, wildlife centre manager, said: “It is just awful to think that the injuries sustained to this beautiful bird could easily have been avoided if someone disposed of their fishing line correctly in the first place.

“Sadly we do see a large amount of birds being brought into us with these kind of injuries, although most are water birds such as swans or gulls.

“Most anglers do make the effort to retrieve and take home all their fishing line and tackle but sadly some are not so careful, which result in incidents like this."

He also thanked the passerby who scrambled through undergrowth to reach the bird.

He then found a tool to cut the wire, before taking off his shirt to put around her and walking back to his car to get help.

Her wing is swollen and she has a wound. She is improving but it is not yet known if she will be able to fly again.

For more information about disposing of fishing litter properly, visit the RSPCA’s website here.