A WILDLIFE group got an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of what will be the North-East's largest nature reserve, though it will not open to the public for another three years.

The newly-formed Darlington branch of the RSPB visited the Saltholme International Nature Reserve, on Saturday, to witness its progress.

The wildlife haven consists of 380 hectares - the size of 1,000 football pitches. Its aim is "to bring nature to people".

The project is expected to cost in the region of £5.7m and will not be open to the public until the beginning of 2008.

The work is a joint venture of the North of England Office for RSPB and Teesside Environmental Trust.

Together, they have secured £2.3m in funding from local landfill site Augean waste and Stockton Borough Council, which donated £500,000 from its regeneration budget.

They are now in the process of applying for grants from a number of sources to acquire the further £3m.

Project manager Kevin Bayes, from the RSPB, said: "The plans to develop the nature reserve have been on the drawing boards since the mid-eighties, but work did not really start until the late-nineties.

"The site is a combination of former industrial land and brown field land, which we are giving back to wildlife and will be of international importance."

The site already has 50 acres of reed beds as well as ponds and lakes of various depths.

The Saltholme reserve at present is home to 90 pairs of terns, which have settled on two islands created by shingle and cockle shells and, last year, 9,000 lapwings discovered the wet grasslands.

Mr Bayes said: "We are hoping to develop the site further to include a visitors' centre, an educational zone, as well as caf and retail facilities.

"A further development will be five kilometres of new wildlife trails, which will attract walkers and birdwatchers."

The nature reserve will also feature security cameras, which will enable RSPB staff to monitor the wildlife and any changes in species setting up home there.

Once open, it hopes to attract more than 103,000 visitors a year, including 5,000 pupils on school trips.

Chris Rendell, of Darlington's RSPB group, said: "We were very excited about the visit and look forward to it opening to the public.

"It will provide educational opportunities and we hope to see bitterns, marsh harrier and bearded tits settle there."