Crayfish moved to escape plague

The disease can be spread by the introduction of other crayfish

The last remaining wild population of white-clawed crayfish in Bedfordshire is being moved to an animal park to save it from extinction.

The species is the only native crayfish in Britain, and are threatened by a plague which is carried by American signal crayfish.

The 100 white-clawed crayfish will be collected from a site at Astwick near Stotfold on Thursday.

They will be moved to Whipsnade Wild Animal Park in Bedfordshire.

The crayfish's new home will be the chimp and lemur moats at the park.

Crayfish plague can be spread by the introduction of the American signal crayfish into the water or by spores on people's footwear and equipment.