A lake which straddles the Norfolk and Suffolk border has been officially recognised as important for biodiversity.

The Great Yarmouth side of Lound Lakes has been declared a County Wildlife Site (CWS) by Norfolk Wildlife Trust. Previously only the Suffolk section had CWS status.

Now the entire area of Lound Lakes - owned by Essex and Suffolk Water - has the same status, recognising the importance of the area to local wildlife.

READ MORE: State of Nature 2023 report outlines 19pc wildlife declines

East Anglian Daily Times: A long-tailed tit enjoying a spot of lunch at Lound Lakes.A long-tailed tit enjoying a spot of lunch at Lound Lakes. (Image: Newsquest)Lound Lakes warden Andrew Hickinbotham said: "It sends a clear message that Lound Lakes is important to nature and that by working together, Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Suffolk Wildlife Trust and Essex & Suffolk Water, can make great changes for the future survival of protected species and biodiversity."

This comes following the 2023 State Of Nature report revealed UK wildlife has declined by 19pc on average since 1970, with 16pc of the 10,000 species assessed now threatened with extinction.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) launched a new strategy of creating nature corridors on over 1,500 County Wildlife Sites across farmland and other privately owned land to address the increasingly urgent need to protect the county's natural assets.