A CONSERVATION group has lost the contract to maintain Darlington's nature reserves, putting three jobs at risk.

The Darlington branch of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) has carried out the work for 12 years, during which it helped the borough council develop a number of reserves.

Now Darlington Borough Council has decided not to renew BTCV's contract, and has instead awarded it to a land services organisation run by the Tees Forest.

The decision has been a severe blow to BTCV in Darlington, which is now attempting to win other work to prevent its closure, which would mean its three staff members losing their jobs.

BTCV Project Officer Helen Tomb, said: "This decision is a big disappointment for BTCV and the people who have put so much into our work.

"They have done so much to create and improve the borough's nature reserves and support local community groups over the last 12 years."

Ms Tomb said her predecessor as project officer, Dean Heward, deserved much credit for managing the teams which created the Drinkfield and Brankin Moor reserves from disused land.

The team has already secured the contract to create a nature reserve behind a factory in Peterlee.

Darlington council confirmed that the contract had been awarded to North East Community Forest Countryside Management Services, an arm of Tees Forest.

Council countryside officer Rob George said: "We appreciate the work that BTCV has done but we are moving towards a ranger-type service for our reserves."

* Anyone wishing to contact BTCV can call the group's Darlington office in Whessoe Road on (01325) 369152.