DEVELOPERS at York’s Hungate project say they have successfully attracted water voles back to the nearby River Foss.

The £150 million re-development of the semi-derelict Hungate area being carried out by Hungate (York) Regeneration Ltd, includes an upgrade of the Foss Islands Nature Reserve and enhancements to the river bank.

A spokeswoman for the developer said that as part of their bio-diversity action plan for the Foss, an objective was set to attract water voles back into the area. Now a set of tiny paw prints on the riverbank had shown that the action plan seemed to be working.

David Houldershaw, consultant ecologist for Hungate, said: “The slow but steady recovery of the local water vole population demonstrates the value of the conservation work being carried out up and down the Foss.

“While water voles are currently just visitors to Hungate, we will be carrying out further work later in the year to encourage a resident population to become established.”

An otter holt was created last year to attract otters to the area and a viewing platform has been provided, where people can see it without disturbing the residents.