A Teesside nature reserve has been given £60,000 to encourage the public to become more involved in a campaign to attract birds and animals to the area.

The money has been given by the Government to help improve the 350-hectare Teesmouth National Nature Reserve, near Port Clarence, north Teesside.

It is hoped the grant will help community involvement at the reserve, which has the only coastal seal community north of Lincolnshire and south of Scotland.

The money has been granted by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and will be used to employ a project officer.

It is hoped volunteering opportunities and community events will be organised at the site, which is managed by English Nature at a cost of about £10,000 a year.

Mike Leakey is site manager at the area, which was declared an official nature reserve in 1995.

He said: "I am delighted because this money will provide a great opportunity to develop much-needed links between the National Nature Reserve and its neighbours.

"People really appreciate a friendly face on hand to advise and assist them, and so the dedicated project officer will be a real boon for everyone.

"Whilst the initial period of employment will only last until next spring, we hope and expect there will be scope to extend it well beyond that time."

Mr Leakey, who has been running the site mainly by himself, said the seal colony had been thriving.

However, the colony of common knot wader birds had been declining for unknown environmental reasons, thought to be outside the area.

Other birds regularly attracted to the site include terns and red shank.

Mr Leakey said it was hoped that better links would be established with neighbouring industries, which include chemical contractors and a nuclear power station.

Tony Laws, English Nature's Northumbria area manager, said: "The money will be used to make a significant and sustainable step forward in increasing understanding and appreciation within local communities of this amazing asset right on their doorsteps.

"We are delighted to have the opportunity to develop this initiative with our industrial partners on Teesside."

The latest grant comes from Defra's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, and will supplement financial support from the Teesmouth Industry and Wildlife Partnership.