A DARLINGTON school is at the forefront of a project to ensure the future of the country's dwindling harvest mice.

Nine- and ten-year-olds at Harrowgate Hill junior school are involved in a breeding programme which originated at Chester zoo.

It was the friendship of teacher, Mr Graham Temby, with Mr Ian Bond, assistant countryside warden at the Castle Eden walkway country park, Stockton, which gave the children the opportunity.

"We got our two breeding mice in May and we now have 14 babies and another nest on the way. It takes 11 days from birth to first seeing them," said Mr Temby. "Some parents have already volunteered to foster them for the summer holidays when I imagine we will have another eight to ten litters."

Although he is chairman of Durham county badger group and a member of Durham wildlife association, the teacher admitted: "It has been a learning curve for me because I didn't know a massive lot about harvest mice.

"They are very, very tiny and live in cornfields and in long grass on roadside verges. They eat marsh insects in summer when breeding and seeds - we feed them fish food and millet seed.

"We have been very lucky that Pets at Home in Yarm Road has agreed to sponsor the mice. They gave us a big tank, food and hay."

It was the discovery that harvest mice appeared almost extinct in the region that led to the project.

The school mice will be put in release pens next spring prior to being released into the wild at the walkway.

Mr Bond would like to hear from anyone who can pinpoint existing colonies. Telephone him on 01740 630011