North Dalton pond gets £25,000 government-funded rescue

The pond in North Dalton is described as the "focal point" of the village

A village pond previously described as "biologically dead" will be brought back to life using government money.

The feature in North Dalton, East Yorkshire, was once a thriving habitat for wildlife, including kingfishers, frogs and dragonflies.

In recent years it became clogged with sediment that had run off from surrounding roads and caused the pond's wildlife to die.

A £25,000 funding boost has come from the government's Levelling Up fund.

A dredging operation will remove mud, silt and debris from the bottom of the pond and new plants will be introduced to create oxygen in the water to support more life.

The water will be surrounded by a wooden barrier to prevent sediment entering the pond.

All the work is being carried out by volunteers from the village, with the exception of the dredging which requires specialised equipment.

Recent storms have delayed the work but it is hoped it will be completed later this year.

The dredging will remove silt that has built up in the pond

One of the organisers, Chris Wade, said that the formerly "thriving" pond had gradually lost its wildlife as silt built up over the years.

"The pond is the focal point really of the village, very much loved by everybody who lives in the village, plus the visitors who come," she said.

"Hopefully it will come back to its former glory."