PEOPLE power will help create a wildlife sanctuary on a rescued river island - after the Avon Navigation Trust missed out on a community grant.

The charity's volunteers have come forward to help create the sanctuary at the Pershore Lock Island.

And one of of the Trust’s stalwart volunteers has come up with a Name the Tree project where people can commemorate a loved one in a special place.

Volunteer Chris Knight said: "We have a great opportunity to turn what is now a blank canvas into something beautiful and rewarding.

Mr Knight, who also asked for trees and compost instead of 70th birthday gifts, has already planted hundreds of bulbs and shrubs on the mid-river oasis, which it’s hoped will become a magnet for visitors as well as wildlife.

The Trust's team is now looking for new grant funding and also has plans to build a hide and make the 3230 square metre island accessible to the public with the support of Pershore’s The Angel Hotel, which teamed up with ANT last year to provide a mooring and landing stage overlooking the site.

Angel owner and chief executive, Darren Eden, said: “At a time when British wildlife is struggling, it is fantastic that ANT is taking this initiative, which will help make Pershore and our river an even more attractive destination for boaters and other visitors.”

The ANT's task force moved in swiftly to save the flood-damaged island in 2015 and was back last year when the island had to be cleared to become an emergency worksite after a winter tree fall rerouted the weir stream and blocked the navigation.

Clive Matthews, ANT chief executive, said: “It was shame that we weren’t successful in the Aviva Community Fund but it helped to raise the profile of our project, which has now taken on a life of its own.

"The commemorative trees are a brilliant idea. Our volunteers are truly a force to be reckoned with.”

To volunteer, email hope29@talktalk.net and to dedicate a tree, email office@avonnavigationtrust.org