ECO visitors proved they had a lot of bottle when they went in search of mini beasts at a North-East organic dairy.

Children, parents and other customers of Acorn Dairy were joined down on the farm by Darlington’s mayor and mayoress Gerald and Ruth Lee who have a keen interest in the environment.

On the last of three welly walks around the farm at Archdeacon Newton, on the outskirts of Darlington, visitors got a close look at some of the herd’s latest additions, the milk parlour and natural feed and fertiliser stores, before going on tractor rides to the ten-acre nature reserve, Boggle Hole.

Once there the youngsters were challenged to find the most interesting fauna from the undergrowth and two ponds.

Prizes were presented by the mayor to runner up Rosie Burgess for her collection of frogs and winner Bethany Lloyd, who caught what looked like a large aggressive water beetle.

“I helped dig our family pond and love to see what is in it,” said Bethany, seven. “The prize of a wildlife book will be really useful in helping identify creatures.”

Councillor Lee said: “I have always been fascinated by the outdoors and it is great to see young people enjoying themselves away from computer games and TV.”

Acorn director Caroline Bell added: “We have an incredible and diverse range of wildlife on the farm, which, being organic, is the perfect environment for nature to flourish.

“It has been lovely welcoming our customers to the farm to share our passion for nature.”