FRUSTRATED residents are campaigning for a major clean-up at a local wildlife spot after a swan was spotted swimming in a dirty reservoir with what appeared to be a fishing line lodged in its beak.

The bird was seen swimming in Lower Ormsgill Reservoir, near Schneider Road, navigating its way around plastic bottles, containers and even a supermarket shopping trolley.

Angry dog walkers and locals who regularly use the area have long been calling on people to take greater responsibility for keeping the area clean but feel the problem is not improving.

Ruth Smith, of Prospect Road had been down at the water on February 3 with her dogs when she spotted two dead swans and became concerned about the causes of death.

Decomposing swans spotted in Barrow reservoir by dog walker

She said: "I just thought it was really odd that two of them were dead in the water.

"I kept my dogs on a leash, because I didn't know if it was avian flu, or if a dog had got it or if it was seagulls."

Councillor Bill McEwan who represents the ward said he has tried for years to encourage people to pick up their litter and is 'aware' of the situation.

"I live on the estate nearby and I had a walk about the other day and was a bit disgusted with what I saw.

"We've done a number of picks over the years and people just need to learn to pick up their rubbish.

"We know that we've got cut backs but we need to educate people."

The Ormsgill representative is in the process of organising a number of litter picks and hopes one can go ahead next week during the half-term holidays.

He added: "I will do my best to help the reservoir and it is all in hand right now, so its a case of watching this space.

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"I had heard about the swans and I did wonder about them as they are protected creatures.

"But this is what we are up against."

A representative from Barrow Borough Council's Street Care team said the area had since been cleaned and the birds' bodies removed.

He said: "We encourage people to use litter bins however some people who are too lazy to carry their waste until they reach a bin will discard the litter on the ground.

"This in turn will have a detrimental effect on wildlife and will pollute any water course/ reservoir.

"Any one caught littering will be fined on the spot and failure to pay the fine may result in prosecution and people who fish at the reservoir also have a responsibility especially when it comes to discarding their fishing lines, hooks, nets etc."

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Barrow Borough Council urges residents to recycle

Low rates of recycling and high levels of contamination were up for discussion at Barrow's Executive Committee meeting which was held on February 7.

Concerns were voiced over the low levels of recycling from households across the Borough and the environmental impact this is having.

Figures showed that of the 32 per cent of households participating in recycling, a significant number of the recycled goods could not be sold on as it was 'contaminated'.

Councillor Brendan Sweeney, vice hair of the committee said the issue was "a big concern."