A GROUP of Darlington schoolchildren are holding their breath as their pioneering wildlife project is put to the test.

The children from Harrowgate Hill Junior School have been working with staff, parents and grandparents to create nest boxes for endangered harvest mice.

It is believed to be the first time such boxes have been built for the creatures, which have disappeared from most of the English countryside and which the school breeds as part of a reintroduction programme.

The box-building project has been led by Harrowgate Hill teacher Graham Temby, and Robin Laycock, a lecturer from Bishop Auckland College.

The children have installed their boxes at the Cowpen Bewley and Portrack Marsh nature reserves on Teesside, where the animals have been reintroduced to the land.

Mr Temby said: "The children have enjoyed making the boxes and working with their parents and grandparents.

"They really enjoyed taking the boxes out to the Teesside sites."

Now everyone is waiting to see if the boxes attract some new residents.