A BUSY town centre is the unlikely new home of one of Britain's most elusive animals.

For the first time in 20 years, otters have been spotted in the River Tees at Stockton.

Conservation groups see the sightings as proof that the river has finally cleaned up its act and is once again attracting a greater variety of wildlife.

The visitors were first spotted a year ago by staff at the Castlegate Quay Watersports Centre, just a stone's throw from the busy town centre.

Since then, staff have found fresh fish heads along the centre's pontoons and have recently seen otters inspecting the centre's facilities.

The playful creatures have even swam alongside boats.

Centre staff were so excited by the surprise visitors that they contacted Tees Valley Wildlife Trust.

Jonathan Pounder, who works at the trust, said: "This is very exciting news. With these confirmed sightings, it shows how conditions in the River Tees have improved greatly over the past 30 years and it is now suitable for this wonderful animal.

"Since the 1980s, otter numbers have been gradually increasing after they suffered years of persecution and poisoning.

"A recent national survey showed that otter numbers have increased five fold in the past 25 years and that the animal is a good indicator of the health of rivers."

Feeding mainly on fish, otters can grow to the size of a small dog and spend most of their lives in the water.

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust is now carrying our work to help safeguard Stockton's otters, which will include raising public awareness and working with land owners to manage the river banks to encourage otters to breed in the area.