A Haslingden woman acted swiftly and saved a whole colony of endangered birds when she found a chick on her doorstep.

Tina Mason took the injured bird to Bolton and Bury Swifts, a specialist conservation charity, where it was hand-reared and released to begin its migration to Africa.

The residents of Cedar Avenue have enjoyed swifts for years as they sing across the gardens each summer and perform their breathtaking displays.

Swifts nest in the eaves of buildings and are extremely faithful to their nest site and their partner, and the migrate after the summer breeding season.

When Tina discovered her housing association, Together Housing, wanted to reroof her home and that of others on the estate, she was concerned about the loss of nest sites and the distress for birds when they returned from their migration.

She was able to advise Together Housing as well as Aaron Marshall, the site manager for WRPS Roofers, about the inclusion of special soffit boxes.

These were installed with the new rooves to provide bespoke accommodation for the swifts on their return and provide a safe space for them to enter.

Together Housing and WRPS Roofers are now the first in the North West to install such a high level of mitigation to protect the red-listed birds.

Tina said: “Hopefully more people will learn about swifts and take pleasure in enjoying their summer displays, but also make sure their nests are still there for them to return to.”

Aaron added: “The boxes were easy to fit inside the soffits. We are delighted to be the first contractor in the region to take such simple but effective measures to help the natural world.”