A PLEA has been issued to Peeblesshire pond owners who use nets to protect their fish from predators, after the death of an osprey at the weekend.

One of the Tweed Valley's rare breeding ospreys drowned when he became tangled in netting.

It prompted project officer Diane Bennett to make the heart-felt appeal in her weekly column for the Peeblesshire News.

Di said: "It was a very tragic accident, as 'yellow 8C' dived into a pond that was netted to prevent predators, such as herons, taking the fish. He got caught up in the netting and drowned.

"For any land owners that have ponds which are stocked with fish and have netting to protect them, please try to discourage any diving bird such as osprey from attempting to make a dive by creating a visual deterrent such as bright coloured netting and tapes or flags that flap in the wind, making movement to deter the osprey from entering.

"It is so sad to lose this magnificent male bird when only last week we were celebrating his return with his partner."

Read Di's column in full: Page 25