IF you go down to the Tees today you're sure of a big surprise.

Staff at Castlegate Quay Watersports Centre are increasingly seeing more otter activity along the river in the heart of Stockton.

Over the past year, they have found fresh fish heads and spraints along the centre's pontoons, but have also witnessed the otters inspecting the facilities and even encouraging groups on the water by swimming round their boats. Centre staff have now called in the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust to help safeguard the important visitors.

Since the Eighties, otter numbers across the UK have been gradually increasing. Now they are returning to former haunts and beginning to explore new areas.

The trust is carrying out work to help safeguard the Stockton creatures, raising public awareness and working with landowners to manage the riverbanks to encourage breeding. The work is being carried out as part of the Tees Corridor Natural Regeneration Project, in conjunction with the centre.

If anyone has any otter sightings on the Tees, they are asked to contact Jonathan Pounder at the trust on 01642 759900.