NATURE lovers in Cheshire are being urged to help halt the extinction of one of the UK's best loved and most threatened species.

Water vole numbers have been declining since 1970 but the past 15 years have seen a dramatic dip, especially in Cheshire.

Mark Robinson, national ecologist for the Canal and River Trust, said: “Water voles are synonymous with British watercourses, they are the largest of the vole family and widely recognised thanks to Ratty from Wind in the Willows.

"But they are one of the most endangered species in the country and are fast becoming a rare sight on Britain’s canals and rivers.

"While there have been positive steps across the country to reintroduce them and protect their habitats, by the trust and other organisations, we have to do more if we are going to stop the water vole from going the way of the dodo.”

The Canal and River Trust said that between 1970 and 1999 water voles were spotted on nearly 269 miles, or 53 different locations, of the 2,000 miles of waterways in the UK.

Between 2000 and 2015 this dramatically decreased, with sightings on just 141 miles, or 38 locations, which is a reduction of nearly 50 per cent.

Cheshire and Yorkshire have had 80 per cent fewer sightings since 2000.

The decline is largely due to habitat loss from development, agriculture and pollution, as well as the threat from American mink, which have bred prolifically since escaping, and sometimes being deliberately released, from from fur farms in the 1970s.

The trust is holding the Great Nature Watch between now and October and asking people to visit canals, rivers, reservoirs or lakes in Cheshire and record sightings of the creatures as well as other wildlife they may see.

Mark said: “By taking part in the Great Nature Watch you can help us monitor the numbers of water voles and in fact, all species living on waterways, which is essential when looking after and maintaining a 200 year part of our industrial heritage.”

Records can be submitted by downloading the trust’s free mobile app eNatureWatch.

Visit canalrivertrust.org.uk/great-nature-watch for more information.