A NEW nature reserve has been opened on the outskirts of Durham City.

Pity Me Carrs, officially designated a local nature reserve by Durham County Council, was opened by Councillor Don Ross, the council's deputy leader.

He said: "Pity Me Carrs is a mosaic of wildlife habitats and is greatly appreciated by local people.

"In the early 1980s, the area was threatened with housing development, but because of its population of protected great crested newts, the main area of the Carrs was retained."

The reserve has two wetlands which are home to frogs, great crested and smooth newts and areas of dry acid heath which support species such as cotton grass, purple moor grass and marsh violet.

The land is owned by the county council which will manage the reserve with the involvement of the local community and Framwellgate Moor Parish Council.

Framwellgate School pupils are involved in management work at the eight-hectare site, alongside the council's ranger service and volunteers.