VOLUNTEERS are fighting off an alien invader at a local beauty spot.

Durham Wildlife Trust and Northumbrian Water have joined forces to keep at bay the Himalayan balsam spreading around the banks of the Derwent Reservoir and suffocating native plants.

Volunteers have been hard at work pulling the Himalayan balsam from land around Branshaw Burn, which feeds into the reservoir.

Further along the banks at Pow Hill, work is continuing to crush bracken which is threatening to crowd out other species and can also harbour harmful sheep ticks.

Anne Porter, from Durham Wildlife Trust, said: “Protecting the natural and native plant life from these ‘alien invaders’ is hugely important.

“We need to pull out every piece of Himalayan balsam we can find on Branshaw Burn as, if it gets into the reservoir, it will spread to all sites.

“This is an ongoing task, because a single plant can produce up to 800 seeds, which are viable for around 18 months and can even germinate underwater.

“With bracken, it’s a case of using quad bikes and even horses to pull rollers and crush the stems of the bracken”.

Northumbrian Water conservation advisor Mark Morris added: “Protecting the environment around our reservoirs, as well as the water itself, is a vital part of ensuring a safe and sustainable water supply, so it is great to have such brilliant volunteers, guided and led by Durham Wildlife Trust.

“Where possible, it is vital to encourage our native species to flourish, so the fightback against these other species, which threaten to overwhelm them, is important.”