KEIGHLEY people are being asked to do their bit to help protect water voles.

Volunteers from the area are sought to take part in a survey, designed to help halt a decline in numbers of the mammal.

The initiative, which runs until June 15, is organised by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.

Participants are invited to look out for – and record – signs of water voles along riverbanks, canals and other inland waterways.

The data will help the charity build-up a picture of where the creatures are living and how their populations are changing – and where help and support is most needed.

Henrietta Pringle, for the trust, said: “Water voles are Britain’s fastest declining mammal – a staggering 90 per cent of the population was lost between the 1980s and 1990s alone, so they really need our help.

“Due to lockdown we were unable to survey water voles last spring, meaning we now have a gap in our dataset.

“With the help of the public this spring, we hope to better understand where water voles are living. Finding out where they are is crucial to their conservation, so now more than ever we need feet on the ground to help us look for these adorable riverside residents to see how they’re faring.”

For further information about the survey and to take part, visit ptes.org/watervoles.