AN award of £50,000 has been handed to Worcester-shire Wildlife Trust to help with the restoration of wetlands on Longdon Marsh.

The money, which comes from the Severn Waste Environmental Fund, means the trust can press ahead with turning 120 acres of land at Hill Court Farm into wetland.

Andy Graham, water for wildlife officer at the trust, said the cash will allow it to develop the full scope of its plans.

"It's the final piece in the funding jigsaw," he said, explaining that when plans were drawn up for the project it was by no means certain that they would receive enough funding to carry them all the way through.

The scheme is aimed at reclaiming some of Worc-estershire's historic wetland, traditionally home to otters, bitterns, swallowtail butterflies and many other forms of wildlife. Until drainage programmes started in the 19th century, wetland covered 20 per cent of the county. Today, just one per cent remains.

"This restoration will bring substantial new benefits for wildlife as well as protecting what has managed to survive, including a number of impressive veteran trees which support an amazing selection of rare invertebrates," Mr Graham said.

In response to fears raised by some residents that re-introducing wetlands would worsen flooding problems, he pointed out that the Environment Agency would not let the work take place if that were the case.

He added that the wetlands project will increase flood run-off capacity during summer months, and hopefully during winter months as well.