Staff from RSPCA Stapeley Grange in Nantwich filled up three large bags of rubbish in a litter pick around Nantwich Lake.
They organised the litter pick as part of a national campaign to clean up the country.
The team, armed with bin bags and litter grabbers, picked up items including glass bottles, cigarette butts, crisp packets and sweet wrappers.
It was organised as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean campaign, which runs until April 23.
Lee Stewart, manager of Stapeley Grange, in London Road, Nantwich, said: “At first it wasn’t obvious that there was a lot of litter as it couldn’t be easily seen.
“But by the time we walked round the lake we still managed to fill three bin bags full.
“Every year the RSPCA rescues 4,634 animals from litter-related injuries, which goes to show how hazardous litter is for wildlife.”
Most cases of litter affecting animals are preventable if rubbish is disposed of properly.
Animals looking for food can get trapped in tin cans and sharp edges can cause injury
Elastic bands also pose a big risk to small animals and birds as they can wrap around their bodies or beaks and cause choking and other injuries.
Broken glass can cause serious injury and small animals can get trapped in jars and bottles.
Plastic bags can suffocate animals or, if they eat them, can cause them to choke or can block their digestive system.
The RSPCA also deals regularly with injuries and deaths to mammals and birds from improperly discarded angling gear.
Injuries caused by discarded fishing hooks can stop animals eating and fishing line may cause strangulation or deep wounds where the line cuts into their body, which can then become infected.
For more advice on how you can help, visit the RSPCA’s ‘Litter Costs Lives’ webpage
If you see an animal in distress, please call the RSPCA’s 24-hour helpline on 0300 1234 999.
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