WALKERS in Teesdale have been doing double-takes after seeing what look like droids from the film Star Wars appearing on the moors.

However, the high-tech creations are in fact monitoring the quality of the area’s waterways.

Funded by Northumbrian Water, which has invested £500,000 in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s Peatland Programme, the machines will take water samples every day for the next five years to help measure the amount of unwanted peat sediment being deposited into rivers and streams by damaged bogs.

Extensive treatment is needed to remove the peat and it’s colour from water before it is fit to be supplied for drinking.

The process requires adding chemicals and then removing them together with the peat sediment from the water.

It is hoped that the project will both help reduce the amount of chemicals used as well as reducing costs for customers.

Alistair Lockett, Field Officer, said: “This is part of our ongoing restoration programme which aims to repair about 3000 hectares of damaged peat throughout the North Pennines. When peatland is restored and healthy, it’s less likely to wash into our waterways.

“We’ve been working with Northumbrian Water and Wemmergil Estate to get these little droids into place.

“Whenever anyone sees them they comment on how much they look like something from Star Wars.

“And if they can do as good at saving the planet, then we’ll be more than happy.”