MANY of Britain's rarest birds are to get further safeguards following the official designation of a vast tract of northern England as a Special Protection Area (SPA).

The internationally-recognised new status for 40 per cent of the North Pennine Moors will protect it from any habitat loss, deterioration or damage.

It should also ensure that cash will be available for farmers and grouse moor owners to manage their land sympathetically.

At more than 147,000 hectares, the new SPA is the largest in the country, stretching from Haltwhistle and Hexham in the north to Harrogate and Skipton in the south.

It encompasses extensive areas of semi-natural moorland and upland grasslands in Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

The designation is good news for a wide range of breeding birds, including upland wading birds and birds of prey, and has been warmly welcomed by the RSPB.

Kevin Bayes, the charity's senior conservation officer for the north, said: "Many of England's rarest birds such as merlin, hen harrier and golden plover will benefit from greater protection thanks to this new designation."

"We also hope landowners will increasingly recognise the designation as a new opportunity to obtain Government funding for sust-ainable stewardship of their land, securing a viable future for all."

English Nature's senior officer in the Yorkshire Dales, Dr Peter Welsh, said the new status signified the international importance of the bird populations in the area.

"It has been estimated that the area of land covered by the new designation holds more than ten per cent of the breeding numbers of merlin in Britain," he said.

Making the announcement yesterday, Environment Minister Bob Ainsworth said: "By designating important bird habitats as SPAs, the Government is fulfilling its commitment to safeguarding rare and endangered species."