Young beavers named by primary school pupils

The kits have been named Lerryn and Willow after special assemblies held by experts

A pair of young beavers have been named by children at two primary schools.

Lerryn and Willow were given their names following special assemblies at Mevagissey School and Gorran School, held by experts from The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Afterwards, more than 150 suggestions were submitted by children and the winners chosen by a panel of judges.

Lerryn, chosen by five-year-old Lerryn from Mevagissey School, means "waters" or "flood" in Cornish, and Willow, which means "willow tree" in Cornish, was suggested by seven-year-old Gorran School student Ada.

The kits were born last month to Twiggy and Byrti, who are part of a national programme to reverse more than 400 years of beavers being extinct in the UK.

The Lost Gardens of Heligan has worked on the scheme with The Welsh Beaver Project, Beaver Trust and Natural England.

Jessica Robinson, from the gardens, said: "We are so proud of the children of Mevagissey and Gorran schools who have done Heligan and their communities proud by choosing these names that reflect both local heritage and the natural habitats of our beavers.

"We hope these beaver kits will be the first of many born at Heligan as our reintroduction [programme] continues to be a success."