A WILDLIFE watchdog is calling for better legal protection for one of the region's most picturesque sections of coastline.

Robin Hood's Bay, near Whitby, in North Yorkshire, is on a list of 34 marine sites the Royal Society of the Protection of Birds wants protected.

The area is notable for the richness of the wildlife on its rocky shore, sheltered rockpools and reefs. The boulders towards the northern end of the bay are richly encrusted with marine sponges.

The RSPB's call accompanies the second reading of a marine wildlife conservation Bill in the Commons.

MP John Randall, who is behind the Bill, wants to see the creation of a new designation to protect and manage important marine wildlife sites.

"Protection for the marine environment remains incredibly weak compared with that on land - only a small proportion of designated conservation sites occur below low-water mark," he said.

Some of the special sites around the coast of England and Wales include important feeding grounds for roseate, little and Sandwich terns, all of which are of high conservation concern in Europe.

The areas are also important feeding areas for the UK's largest seabird, the gannet, which nest at the RSPB's Bempton Cliffs reserve, in east Yorkshire, and of which two-thirds of the world population occur in UK waters