WATER voles and other vulnerable species are to be given a helping hand by a Teesside wildlife group.

Tees Valley Wildlife Trust has been awarded £27,466 to implement a biodiversity action plan across the Tees Valley area.

The Wealth of Wildlife plan will see the trust work with local authorities, schools and industry to improve and create habitats in urban areas for endangered creatures, such as the water vole.

Sreve Ashton, the trust's education officer, said: "We will be looking at species and habitats which are in decline, such as the water vole whose numbers have been falling in several areas. A big part of it will be education among the local communities as many people mistakenly think water voles are rats."

The Redcar-based group has recently recruited a biodiversity officer, Liz Arnold, to oversee the project.

"This award is excellent news and will enable us to develop our programme with our various partners further," said Mr Ashton. "The money will be used specifically to look at how biodiversity can be improved within the Tees Valley's urban areas."

The grant is one of 80 which have been handed out to voluntary groups across the country from the Government's Environmental Action Fund.

North-East Wildlife Trusts - a partnership of Tees Valley, Northumberland, and Dur-ham Wildlife Trusts - has picked up £30,286 to help communities understand and implement long-term conservation.

The Environment Minister, Michael Meacher, said: "Biodiversity is benefiting from 23 Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs' grants which now support local projects from Teesside to Truro and species from bats to butterflies. These will help protect vulnerable species and habitats across England."