PEOPLE are being warned to watch out for chicks on a North-East beach after some of Britain's most endangered seabirds have started to hatch.

Thirty-five pairs of little terns are nesting within a protected enclosure on the sands at Crimdon, near Hartlepool, and wildlife experts are calling on members of the public to be vigilant.

Warden Kevin Spindloe, who is overseeing the operation to protect the colony, said: "The public have been excellent so far and respected the enclosure on the beach.

"Even people approaching it have been fine when we explain to them that it is important to minimise the amount of disturbance for the nesting birds.

"The problem is that the chicks are now hatching and within a day, young little terns can walk. But if they become scared they simply sit down - looking rather like a stone - and we are worried that they may be accidentally stood on or frightened by dogs."