Third egg hatches in osprey nest

It is the ninth successful brood for the male osprey

All three osprey eggs which were laid in a nest at Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria have now hatched.

Two chicks were seen earlier this week, and the third was confirmed on Thursday when it raised its "wobbly little head", said conservationists.

It is the ninth brood for a male bird which arrived at the lake in 2001.

He was the first osprey to nest in the Lakes in 150 years and has reared six chicks with the current female and 10 with his previous mate.

The birds attract thousands of people to the area each year, providing a boost to the Lake District's economy.

Visitors to Bassenthwaite can watch them through high-powered telescopes at the Dodd Wood viewpoint, overlooking the lake.

Live images from the nest are also beamed to a big screen at the nearby Whinlatter visitor centre.

The Lake District Osprey Project is managed by a partnership of the Forestry Commission, Lake District National Park Authority and the RSPB.