Endangered water voles released into the wild

More than 100 water voles are being release data site in Yorkshire as part of efforts to help the endangered mammals.

The scheme by Yorkshire Water will see the animals released at Timb le Ings Woods in the Washburn Valley, part of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Water voles, immortalised as Rat ty in Wind in the Willows, have suffered steep decline sin recent years as a result of being pr eyed on by invasive American mink, as well as loss and degradation of their habitat and water pollution.

Yorkshire Water said it had carried out work at the woods, which it owns and manages, to keep watercourses free of tree coverage and allow bankside vegetation to grow, making it ideal habitat for water voles.