A CAMPAIGNER is calling for a no fishing zone in Bewdley after test results have shown that swans from the town have high levels of lead poisoning.

Jan Harrigan, of Wychbold Swan Rescue Centre, said that Bewdley was the worst “hot spot” for lead poisoning in the country.

She added she had rescued 65 swans from the town since January and that their poisoning by lead had been confirmed by the results of blood samples sent to a veterinary laboratory in Shrewsbury.

Mrs Harrigan said: “We can’t leave things as they are. Something has to be done to stop this cruelty. The state of these birds is totally pathetic.

“Some of them won’t survive despite the care and treatment we give them.”

She explained that a no fishing zone had worked “brilliantly” in Worcester to reduce the problem and said that anglers would now have to start addressing the issue.

She said “The anglers told me I had to prove the swans were being poisoned. I have done that and now it is time for them to prove that they have nothing to do with it.”

Des Taylor, a Bewdley angler and organiser of a recent protest against a fishing ban in the town, said: “We don’t know where the lead is coming from but we have proved without a doubt that it is not from anglers.

“For the last 15 years, lead shot has not been available in this country. I’m a professional angler and I wouldn’t be able to get hold of any.”

Lyn Fraley, principal communications officer for the Environment Agency, said they were still not certain why swans were dying in Bewdley.

She explained they had funded the analysis of swan blood provided by the Wychbold Swan Rescue Centre and the results had shown high levels of lead.

She added that they would soon be commissioning new blood analysis techniques which, they hoped, would show where the lead came from.

She said: “The problems at Bewdley will need everyone’s co-operation if we are to find a solution that supports angling and protects swans.

“Our local staff have been invited to meetings with the Wychbold Swan Rescue Centre and local council and we agree that anglers also need to be at these meetings.

“It’s our job to promote angling and we want to make sure that the voice of anglers is heard.”

She added: “We want to see the town council, swan rescue groups, anglers and residents of Bewdley work together on this issue.

“Ultimately, the council will need to decide what action is taken but it’s important that everyone interested in the river has their say.”

Barbara Stallwood, Bewdley Mayor, has said that Bewdley is a “fishing town” and should remain that way while the town council has said it is not supporting a fishing ban.