A PAIR of keen anglers have hit back over claims the sport is harming swans in Worc-ester because of the use of lead weights.

They say they are fed up with fishermen being blamed when swans get lead poisoning and insist the metal seeps into the rivers from poorly maintained boats and shot from gun cartridges.

Matthew Bishop, a member of the Worcester and District United Anglers' Association who has been fishing for 20 years, said: "Even though you are a fisherman, you are a conservationist. You do not want to see any harm come to any animal.

"I do not use lead weights. The last time I used lead was 14 years ago. I do not know anyone who uses lead," said Mr Bishop, from Dines Green.

He added that some people who go out fishing are not serious fishermen and may not take so much care over the weights they use and the swans' welfare.

"I think lead gets into the water from boats which leak engine oil and fuel. Some of the boats are very badly maintained." Peter Yewbury, also from Dines Green, has been fishing the Severn from Pitchcroft to the weir at Diglis since he was five years old - for 27 years. He has even waded into the water to free a swan entangled in a stray fishing line. "All the local anglers are conservation-minded," he said. "I have never seen anything but good will towards the swans. Most fishing weights are made of non-toxic alloy metals and have been for some years."

Spokeswoman for the Environment Agency Holly Smith said: "It is possible that lead in the River Severn could come from other sources rather than simply lead fishing weights." She added that swans travelled to Worcester from all over the local area and could have picked up lead from anywhere. "We do not want to speculate until we have firm evidence and we have no powers to control lead shot from guns being used near rivers and streams," she said. She added that the agency's recent blitz on rod licences and use of illegal lead weights found no offenders between Worcester and Bewdley.

Wychbold Swan Rescue owner Jan Harrigan said: "There are good anglers and there are ones who simply do not care less. But we are still getting swans brought in with hooks, lines and lead weights hanging off them. We have 70 cygnets here that have been wrapped up with lines."