THIS is the first picture of a bee-eater chick since its parents took up residence at Bishop Middleham Quarry nature reserve in south Durham.

Thousands of visitors have been attacted to the site since it was announced last month that they were the first bee-eaters to breed in this country for almost 50 years.

The birds arrived in June and nested in a tunnel which they bored out of a cliffside.

The first of the youngsters has now made an appearance, showing the same plumage which makes the birds one of the most colourful in Europe.

The exact number of chicks is unknown, but at least two have been seen.

Bee-eaters, occasional visitors to the region, usually nest in warmer southern European climes but this pair became lost and defied all the odds by bringing up young at the disused quarry, which is managed by Durham Wildlife Trust.

A joint operation between the RSPB and the trust ensured the birds did not fall prey to illegal egg collectors.

When the chicks leave the nest, the birds should start foraging further from the quarry in the search for food.

At some point they will leave altogether because bee-eaters winter in tropical Africa before heading back to Europe. No one knows if they will return to Bishop Middleham.

A viewpoint has been set up on farmland near Bishop Middleham, north-west of Sedgefield. Access is from the A1 and A177 and follow the signs to the bee-eaters. A local farmer has provided the viewing area and there is a small charge for car parking.