Hundreds of animals needed to be rescued in Sussex in the last four years due to problems with litter.

Nearly 700 animals in East and West Sussex needed to be rescued after becoming injured, trapped or being killed as a result of litter since 2020.

The stark figures from the RSPCA come as the animal rescue charity calls on people to help clean up the countryside to “create a better world for every animal”.

Statistics released by the RSPCA show that 399 calls were made by people in East Sussex about animals hurt or killed by litter from 2020 to 2023.

In West Sussex, 283 calls were made in the same time period.

Both counties were in the top 15 in the country for litter-related animal rescues by the RSPCA.

The animal charity, based in Horsham and celebrating its 200th anniversary this year, is now calling for more to be done to clean litter and save animals as part of the Great British Spring Clean project, organised by Keep Britain Tidy.

RSPCA anti-litter campaigns manager Carrie Stones said: “Our rescuers deal with thousands of avoidable incidents every year where animals have been impacted by litter.

“Old drinks cans and bottles, plastic items and even disposable vapes are just some of the items that pose a danger to our wildlife - including hedgehogs, deer and foxes. Animals can ingest the litter or become entangled, leading to injuries, mutilations and even death.

“Sadly, for every animal we’re able to help there are probably many others that go unseen, unreported and may even lose their lives.

“But the public can help us protect animals and avoid these incidents happening in the first place.”

The RSPCA said that nearly half of all calls about litter were related to animals becoming caught in fishing litter.

The animals which were most affected by litter included foxes, hedgehogs, deer and swans.

More than 13,000 reports of animals affected by litter were received nationwide.

Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean takes place from March 15 to 31.