A FLOATING island at a North-East nature reserve will provide a breeding ground for a declining bird population if enough money can be raised to build it.

Durham Wildlife Trust is creating the island at Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, near Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland, as a home for the common tern.

Not as common as the name suggests, there is an overall decline in the European population of the bird, characterised by long, red legs and black-tipped, red bills.

Breeding sites on rocks or open shingle are prone to attack by foxes, rats and minks, so the birds are increasingly confined to sites on islands.

But island nesting comes with its own difficulties, and in times of extreme high tide, nests are easily washed out.

Several pairs of common terns have taken a liking to Rainton Meadows as a breeding site, so the trust hopes to construct a floating island in one of the ponds to help them.

The island will be anchored, it will be able to float, rising with high water levels to keep nests dry.

Support from Northumbrian Water and Durham Bird Club means the trust has all the materials it needs to make the island, but is without a boat to position the island.

The trust has received help from English Nature, but a further £1,500 is needed.

Spokeswoman Sharon Coldwell said: A boat is an essential wetland management tool for a wildlife trust that manages many nature reserves containing large areas of open water."

To help, call 0191-584 3112.