A WILDLIFE champion has been appointed to preserve and protect vulnerable species in the North-East.

Andy Lees has taken up a new post created by the Durham Biodiversity Partnership, which includes local authorities and environmental groups across the region.

Having previously worked for the charity Environ, in Leicester, co-ordinating everything from nature reserve management to natural burial schemes, Mr Lees was considered a prime candidate for the role, which covers the old Dur-ham county boundary areas, from the Tyne to the Tees.

Based at Durham Wildlife Trust's Rainton Meadows reserve and visitor centre, near Houghton-le-Spring, he will co-ordinate work to protect species such as the Durham Argus butterfly, as well as conserving and creating habitats such as ponds and wetlands.

He is already working on several projects, from better management of roadside verges in Weardale, to encouraging growth of wildflowers, and the protection and creation of hedgerows in Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Darlington.

"We need good information about local wildlife before we can decide how best to look after it, and everyone in the Durham area can help," Mr Lees said.

"I hope that by running a series of surveys, which individuals and school groups can take part in, then we'll start to build a better picture of wildlife in our area."

He is already impressed by what he calls, "the amazing wildlife heritage".

"The beautiful rivers and scarce magnesian limestone grassland in the east are all national treasures," he said.

"We all need to work together to ensure they are looked after."