MEATBALLS, gravy and other tasty lunchtime treats are on the menu for some Teesside residents.

It makes a welcome change to a normal diet of grubs, fungi and insects - for wildlife living on the Tees estuary.

Workers at western Europe's largest petro-chemical complex have "adopted" the local wildlife.

They put out dog bowls with gravy and meatballs, and wives put a little extra in their husbands' bait boxes for the wildlife.

The complex managers are funding schemes, led by professional environmentalists, to improve habitats for a range of creatures, a rare partnership between industrialists and conservationists.

The scheme is groundbreaking and English Nature community liaison officerTina Flinn was asked to make a presentation to an international audience in the Netherlands.

Tony Laws, manager of English Nature's Northumbria team, said: "Since 1998, there has been a partnership between English Nature and various industries on Teesside.

"We have a national nature reserve, and clearly the industry around here are our neighbours and we have common interests.

"We believe there is a lot to be gained from having a positive relationship when we share this area. There is a lot to be gained from working together.''

Morven Smith, head of human resources with British Energy, which backs the partnership, said: "It is very important in terms of the environment. We can help support projects and aims.

"We have the facilities and environment and it's a way of putting something back into the community.''

Nearly 2,000 young trees have been planted along the access road to Hartlepool Power Station .

BP put money into restoring hides from which to watch wildlife.

Conoco Phillips wants to create a wildlife garden and PD Ports plans to transform a stretch of river bank at Middlesbrough into wildflower meadow and plant trees.

BASF wants to discuss with English Nature how to make part of its site more attractive to wildlife.