ONE of the North-East's more uncommon insects is thriving on a nature reserve where reedbeds were saved from disappearing.

The banded demoiselle damselfly (Calopteryx splendens) is increasing its numbers significantly at Billingham Beck Country Park, on the edge of Billingham, Teesside.

Also, the uncommon globeflower, which disappeared from the Billingham Beck area many years ago, has been rediscovered in one of the water meadows.

Reedbeds on the reserve were the subject of a £5,000 restoration project started in 1998 by Stockton Borough Council, which owns the park, and Billingham's Industry Nature Conservation Association (Inca).

Funding came through the Landfill Tax Credit scheme, via ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd and Phillips Petroleum.

Action was taken because 3.8 hectares of reedbeds were in danger of drying out following the construction of the A19 road in the 1970s, which disrupted their natural water sources.

The whole reserve is benefiting from the restoration, underlined by the emergence of the banded demoiselle.

One of several uncommon dragonflies and damselflies now on the site, they are beautiful insects with brilliant blue-green bodies.

Billingham Beck Country Park managers chose the banded demoiselle for particular attention as part of an Adopt-a-Species programme instigated by Inca.

Other animals using the country park include sedge warblers, reed buntings, snipe, kingfishers, and orange tip butterflies.

Ken Smith, an ecologist with Inca, said: "This is another fine example of cooperation between industry, local authorities and nature conservation."