CONSERVATION officials are celebrating following a successful breeding season at a North-East nesting site of one of the UK's rarest seabirds.

More than 30 chicks are known to have hatched from eggs laid at the little tern colony at Crimdon Dene, near Hartlepool.

The site is in stark contrast to last year when no chicks were reared following the theft of eggs from the site 12 months earlier.

The birds finally bred at Crimdon this year after an unsuccessful attempt at South Gare and only partial success at North Gare, both of which are adjacent to Teesmouth.

The little tern project is managed by the Industry and Nature Conservation Association, with funding from English Nature and the Northumbrian Water Environment Trust.

Other project partners are Hartlepool Borough Council, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust and Durham Wildlife Trust.

The beach and dunes are a site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area.

They have been designated because of their internationally important bird populations, including little terns.

Dan McAndrew, Hartlepool council's ecologist said: "We really didn't know what to expect this year, having had two such bad years previously. To get more than 30 chicks is brilliant."