BREEDING ospreys are being encouraged to nest in Bewdley after several of the birds were spotted at a reservoir.

Midlands Electricity company Aquila Networks, Severn Trent Water and the Shropshire Wildlife Trust have joined together to reintroduce the birds after they were seen at Trimpley Reservoir.

Severn Trent transported one of the Trust's spare osprey nesting platforms from Shrewsbury to its tree-top site in Bewdley.

Aquila sent in specialist tree contractors to prune back the branches to make way for the platform and provided the nest and steel.

"Aquila's aim is to play an active role within the environment through the community sponsorship programme," said company spokesman Rob Woodcock.

"We're delighted to support this project, which we hope will be successful in attracting the ospreys to the area to breed."

Andy Warren, from Severn Trent Water, revealed that ospreys already used the area as a regular feeding ground and the first ones were due back here at the end of the month.

"The next step is to encourage them to actually stay on the site and hopefully breed.

"This is where the nesting platform comes in. It's an exciting project to be involved on and one we hope will bring ultimate success."