CHILDREN have been turning over new leaves in an unusual rescue operation.

Pupils from two Middlesbrough schools - Ayresome Junior and Rosewood Primary - have been helping to save colonies of endangered wet meadow plants which were in the path of a housing estate.

Yesterday, they helped adults to transplant the vegetation to a new wetland site being established at the Lingfield Countryside Centre, Middlesbrough, in a bid to preserve local wildlife and plant habitats.

One of the uprooted species is found on only one other site on Teesside. The rescue mission was funded by Bryant Homes and carried out by Middlesbrough Council, The Wildflower Arc Project and the BTCV Tees Forest team - with the help of the youngsters. Some of the vegetation was transplanted to Berwick Hills Community Park.