Secret bat maternity cave created

Lesser horseshoe bat droppings have been found in the cave

An old rail tunnel has been turned into a bat cave and maternity roost at a secret location in North Somerset.

The tunnel in a disused quarry, has been converted to include features for hibernating bats as well as a heater and incubator for breeding bats.

The cave includes a special hibernation area to allow the bats to hang on battens and hide behind crevices.

There are also temperature loggers to record underground conditions and provide the best habitat for the bats.

"This is a unique development for the farmer, landowner, local bat experts and Rural Development Service (RDS)," said David Trump an adviser for the RDS in the South West.

"We have already seen encouraging signs with lesser horseshoe bat droppings already found in the cave. We're hoping the conditions provided by the 'maternity unit' will mean lots more bats use the facilities to rear their offspring."

The project is being funded with money from Defra's Countryside Stewardship Scheme which is administered locally by the RDS.