Wildlife conservationists have issued a plea for Lancashire Telegraph readers to help preserve a riverside favourite that is an endangered species.

Water voles inspired the character Ratty in Kenneth Grahame's Wind In The Willows and were once a common sight along Britain's waterways.

But populations numbers have dived by 90 per cent since the 1970s, amid habitat losses and competition from aggressive American minks.

Now the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling for volunteers to take part in a survey for water voles across the country, including East Lancashire.

In Lancashire last year, during a similar survey, just one water vole was observed out of eight sites surveyed.

But PTES officials say 53 were located at176 sites surveyed across the country.

This was an improvement on 2022, when there were just 37 spotted at 95 sites inspected.

Water vole watchers are asked to visit nearby stream, rivers or canals and record what the find online via ptes.org/watervoles.

Tell-tale signs are said to include feeding stations, burrows in the riverbank, piles of droppings or listening out for their characteristic ‘plop’ as they dive into the water.

Trust officials say there are 700 pre-selected sites volunteers can survey, or a new site can be registered. Free training is available online.

Survey results will help conservationists find where water voles are living, how their populations are changing each year, and most importantly, where they’re no longer found, to inform future work, like restoring degraded rivers, improving connectivity between wetlands, and controlling predator minks.

Emily Sabin, water vole officer at PTES, said: “With their glossy dark brown fur, blunt snouts and furry tails, water voles are incredibly cute, but the decline they continue to experience is nothing short of alarming.

"Thankfully, in some areas water voles are starting to make a comeback due to habitat restoration work and increased mink control, but their numbers are still much lower than they should be.

"To prevent any further losses and to hopefully start seeing water voles across our waterways more broadly, we need as many people to take part in our survey as possible.”

To become a water vole watcher, access the free online training or to find out more, visit www.ptes.org/watervoles

Emily added: “Whiling away a few hours along a local waterway surveying for water voles is really enjoyable and rewarding, but it’s also a fantastic way to take part in conservation and to make a difference to the wildlife that lives around us.

"Over the past nine years hundreds of volunteers have taken part each year, but more help is desperately needed to fill the gaps. If you have any spare time between now and June then I’d urge to you get involved if you can.”