COUNCIL workers are doing their best to ensure that birds are not disturbed by lake maintenance work.

Sunderland City Council has launched a clean-up of the water in Mowbray Park.

The scheme includes removing debris and carrying out planting on the island.

Project manager Ivor Crowther said: "We have had to drop the water levels to enable us to carry out the work.

"But we are making sure that they do not stop so low as to affect the ducks and wildlife.

"We will also be making sure that when we are doing planting work on the island we don't disturb any nests.