Some of the most shy creatures that inhabit the riverbank are being lured back to the upper reaches of the River Wharfe, thanks to a £35,000 project spearheaded by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

Three new man-made holts are to be built alongside the river at secret locations near Grassington.

The work, starting next week, is part of a campaign to help the tiny population of Otters in the northern Dales to establish new territories.

Landowners have agreed to set aside part of the riverbank especially for the nocturnal creatures. The job involves fencing the area from farm animals, planting trees and constructing special homes for the rarely seen creatures.

Pete Bowler, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust information officer, said: "We are working to create the habitat that allows otters to expand naturally.

"The Wharfe has a small population but we can't say how many. They are very shy creatures. We know where they have been, but seeing one is quite an event.

"Sylvia Jay has been the project officers for three years and she has not seen a living Otter. That is how shy they are."

He said the project was like building a housing estate for Otters in which the right habitat was created so they could build new territories.

The holts were being created in a plantation. Two would be made from timber, using windblown trees and branches from earlier thinning work, and the third would be made of plastic pipe and blocks.

Sylvia Jay said the funding had been provided by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

The work was being carried out by volunteers from the Wildlife Trust, Dales Millennium Trust and Yorkshire Water, which had provided £7,000 in matching funding.

Volunteers are needed to monitor stretches of river for evidence of Otters. Anyone interested can contact the Trust on (01904) 659570.

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