A warning has been issued about the dangers fake spiderwebs can pose to wildlife. 

The Norfolk Wildlife Trust has alerted locals about the risks of the Halloween decorations after animals were found tangled in the webbing.

The sticky nature of the decorations - usually hung over bushes and trees - makes it easy for birds' wings to get stuck in them which exhausts them and leaves them injured by the struggle.

Birds can seriously injure themselves once tangled in the phoney cobwebs (Image: Marin Humane) Helen Baczkowska, nature recovery manager at Norfolk Wildlife Trust, said: "It may be tempting to use plastic Halloween decorations, such as fake spider webs, to add some seasonal magic to your gardens, but they spell real danger for our precious wildlife.

"These non-biodegradable decorations are a choking risk for local species such as hedgehogs, foxes and badgers. 

"They can also tangle up birds and bats and disrupt spiders from making real webs."

READ MORE: Why so many big spiders are making their way into our homes

The trust has even suggested embracing the county's natural spooky occurrences instead of the fake plastic ones.

"From dead man's fingers fungi to barn owls hunting at dusk, there's nothing weirder and more wonderful than the wildlife we find on our doorsteps," Ms Baczkowska added.

"By choosing eco-friendly alternatives you can make sure your celebrations do not become a true nightmare for Norfolk's amazing natural world."