SEA trout are returning to the River Dunsop to spawn, thanks to an innovative project designed to improve their habitat.

In response to declining numbers of sea trout and salmon in the river, the Environment Agency and Ribble Catchment Conservation Trust took action by funding and creating specially designed spawning channels in a bid to encourage the fish to breed.

And the plan seems to be working, with the channels built in the summer by the Trust with help from Environment Agency staff have seen eight trout redds in the river.

A redd is the nest sea and brown trout create in river gravel to lay their eggs.

Andy Clarke, Fisheries Officer, said: "It's great to see these spawning channels working so quickly.

"If the right habitat is available the fish will use it".