FARMERS are playing a vital role in a scheme to save one of the region's most endangered species.

Wildlife experts say only a handful of harvest mice colonies exist in the North-East.

Northumberland farmers John and Phillip Gregory, have signed up to a Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs scheme that is helping to boost local wildlife populations.

Hedge restoration work has been completed on their land at Earsdon Hill, along with programmes to create ponds, plant trees and provide a mix of arable margins around crop fields.

This will not only help the harvest mice colony but also a host of other animal and birdlife that can be found on the farm, including red squirrel, tree sparrows, grey partridge, lapwing, skylark, curlew, bullfinch, turtle dove and yellowhammer.

John Gregory said: "As one of only four known sites in the North-East, we wanted to ensure the harvest mice have a good chance of survival by providing the kind of habitat they need."

Measuring 50mm to 70mm and weighing four to six grammes - about the same as a 20p piece - the harvest mouse (micromys minutus) is Britain's smallest and most elusive mouse, and is mainly found south of Yorkshire.

Naturalists believe only four harvest mice colonies remain in the North-East - two in Northumberland and two in County Durham.

The Earsdon Hill colony was found during a survey in the 1970s and a second survey 18 years later again produced a positive result.