WATER voles have made an 'impressive' comeback to Suffolk's waterways, a recent survey has shown.The Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) said the 'exciting news' is the result of a five-year project to control the water vole and mink populations in the county.

WATER voles have made an 'impressive' comeback to Suffolk's waterways, a recent survey has shown.

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT) said the 'exciting news' is the result of a five-year project to control the water vole and mink populations in the county.

So far the comeback has been most effective on the River Stour between Bures and Daws Hall but the SWT say the results have been mirrored on other Suffolk rivers, such as the Alde and the Deben.

Wildlife officer Penny Hemphill said: 'A year ago there was a small population of water vole in Bures, but following sustained mink trapping by committed landowners, a recent survey this April found that natural re-colonisation by water vole along this stretch of river has exceeded all expectations.

'This is very exciting news, and shows once again, that where the habitat is suitable and with co-ordinated mink control, these resourceful creatures will find their way back onto the main channels of our rivers.'

The water vole and mink control project is co-ordinated by the SWT and in the five years it has been running, 1750 mink are known to have been trapped by 300 landowners, managers and gamekeepers involved.