ONE of the UK's most endangered animals has made a comeback in a North town.

Evidence of a harvest mice nest has been discovered in the Barmpton area, on the northern edge of Darlington.

Harvest mice have disappeared in many parts of the country, with the effects of intensive agriculture identified as one of the key reasons for the loss of their nest sites.

In the region, there have been sporadic reports of the creatures in Northumberland and parts of North Yorkshire, but the animal has disappeared from vast tracts of farmland.

The Darlington discovery was confirmed by Ian Bond, of the Northumbrian Mammal Group, who has helped with the reintroduction of the creature on Teesside, where captive harvest mice have been released.

He found the nest with naturalist Don Griss, of Darlington.

Mr Bond, who also lives in the town and is an ecologist for Hartlepool Borough Council, has been searching for evidence of the animals across the region.

He said: "I have been appealing for information for old records of harvest mice so that we can map out their former distribution, so I was gobsmacked to find that they were living just round the corner from where I live.

"It took me two or three seconds to register when I saw the nest.

"As far as I am aware, this is the first record between the Tees and the Tyne for about 20 years and certainly the first I have ever heard of from Darlington."

Anyone with information on other nests, often made 2ft up grass stalks, is asked to call Mr Bond on (01429) 523431 in the daytime.