OUR dog underwent an operation last week to remove an enormous fishing hook that was lying close to her heart.

She was attracted to the bait that was attached to the hook and swallowed it. On several occasions, I have found discarded fishing tackle lying on the sand and have disposed of it in the bin.

Please be vigilant other dog walkers and parents of young children as these hooks are lethal.

Dog owners often get a bad press for not clearing up after their dogs, and the New Brighteners do a fantastic job clearing up litter from our beautiful shoreline – but the behaviour of some fishermen leaves a lot to be desired.

It is especially noticeable after competitions, when discarded fish heads are left littering the beach.

It would be helpful if Wirral Council were to erect a sign warning fishermen to clear their debris from the beach.

Thankfully, our dog is recovering from her ordeal, and I hope this warning will prevent further suffering.

Evelyn Moir by e-mail.