Rare beetle rescued from sewer works

The century-old pipework is being replaced from Monday at Germany Beck to connect with the nearby Naburn sewage works to cut pollution risks and improve water quality in the Ouse.

The problem was how to do the work without harming one of the country's last remaining populations of tansy beetle. The species feeds on the sparsely found tansy plant and was near extinction less than 10 years ago.

John Bond, Yorkshire Water's project manager, said: "It was easier than it sounds to find the beetles as they're pretty lazy and from the end of September return to the root of tansy plants.

"The plants were carefully dug up and moved. As soon as we've completed the work, we'll be returning them to the site."