TWO brothers from Barrow have become a social media sensation after a video of them rescuing a trapped swan was posted online.

Jason and Craig McCullough were walking their dog near to Ormsgill Reservoir in Barrow yesterday morning when they spotted a swan trapped in a fishing line.

"We were walking to town with the dog and saw the swan in distress," Craig said.

"Jason did his thing and rescued it."

The two brothers, both from Barrow, have since been praised online by those who have seen the video.

On one Barrow Facebook page, the Bizarreness of Barrow and Furness, plenty of comments have been posted about the video.

Hannah Bloor said: "Lovely to see someone looking after such a graceful elegant bird. Whoever left their line there needs to think about the damage that could have been caused to that bird and others. Well done for taking your time to look after her so well. Nice to see."

Al Hartley added: "Brilliant rescue well done. But the idiots leaving the fishing line should be ashamed of themselves."

The RSPCA said around 3,000 swans are injured by fishing litter in Britain every year.

Hooks can become embedded in - or even pierce - the skin. Hooks, line and weights can be swallowed, causing internal blockages, injury and poisoning.

Line can wrap around an animal, cutting off the blood supply. Wildlife entangled in line may suffer a slow death due to starvation.

The charity issued advice to anglers:

Take unwanted fishing line home home and cut it into small pieces before putting it in the bin.

Be aware of surrounding trees – line caught in foliage can entangle wildlife.

Don’t leave baited tackle unattended – remove bait from the hook and put the tackle in a safe place.

Use a bait box.

Help keep your local river, canal or coastline litter-free.

Dispose safely of any rubbish you see, even if it is not your own.