Glow worms saved by mower ban

Glow worms are "quite picky" about their habitat

Glow worms living on grass verges are being given special protection by the council.

Local authority leaders in Northamptonshire have agreed to suspend mowing the grass where the tiny creatures live.

Council biodiversity officer Tilly Tilbrook has told contractors not to cut grass during July.

Ms Tilbrook said: "Glow worms are quite picky about their habitat.

"They prefer grassland on alkaline, chalky type soils because this is where their food source of small snails is found.

"Having set up a colony on grass verges at Wakerley, it appears that they were in danger of being killed right in the middle of the breeding season because of our grass-cutting regime."

Glow worms are scarce in the UK and are under threat from grass mowing and pesticides.