AN environmental project aimed at helping one of the nation's most endangered mammals has been awarded £47,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Gore Burn Restoration Project, based on land between Wheatley Hill and Thornley, east Durham, is helping restore a favourable habitat for the rare water vole.

The venture is seeking to re-establish the Gore Burn watercourse, which in turn will be linked to various wetland habitats.

The result will be the creation of a suitable site for water voles, which have suffered significant decline in the last 20 years and are now absent from 90 per cent of areas where previously found.

The original water vole habitat at Gore Burn suffered decades of neglect and damage through the workings of the former Thornley Colliery.

The project will create new wetland features to benefit the voles and provide habitats for many other species of birds and insects.

George Patterson, Easington District Council's executive member for the environment, said: "The restoration and enhancement of the Gore Burn watercourse is considered vital to safeguarding the long-term future of the water vole."

Further information about the project can be obtained from Gary Shears, the district council's countryside officer, on 0191-527 0501.