The spell will not stop her popping her head up occasionally to wave to passing speed boats, but it will protect her

White witch Kevin Carlyon

Both attempts are due to take place early next month, with Mr Sunberg saying he will continue regardless of Mr Carlyon's activities.

Speaking from Sweden, he said: "This is a serious business. We have been planning this for a while but we postponed the trip until April 23 due to the foot-and-mouth disease.

"We will lay the trap and then when the monster is trapped we will study it and take DNA samples. We will then release it back into the loch.

"We are aware of the cynics but we don't care what they say."

Club support

Mr Carlyon, who is from Hastings, said: "We basically plan to go out on to the loch and cast a spell on Nessie that will hopefully prevent her ever being caught.

"The spell will not stop her popping her head up occasionally to wave to passing speed boats, but it will protect her.

"We've been offered a boat free of charge by a local man and we have the support of the official Loch Ness Monster fan club.

Gary Campbell: "Protection welcome"

"We will also have a local piper playing as we go out."

Gary Campbell, chairman of the official Loch Ness Monster fan club, said: "Historically Nessie has not needed any protection, she's been doing that herself very well for hundreds of years.

"But we do not want Nessie caught at all. I think Mr Sunberg would be breaking the law if he did manage to catch her.

"Scottish Natural Heritage, a government-appointed body, has recently got involved to try and regulate Nessie hunting. But thanks to the powers of white witchery, they don't need to get involved.

"I look forward to meeting Mr Carlyon."

The SNH code of conduct requires that any Nessie hunter catching the monster must release her after taking DNA samples.