AS the snow swept over East Lancashire I watched a flock of rooks defying the weather and rebuilding their nests ready for the breeding season.

Looking at the nests from a distance they resemble an untidy collection of sticks. The interior, however, is very, very neat and looks rather like a larger version of a blackbird's nest.

Some years ago as Dutch Elm disease destroyed the rooks favourite species of tree, many predicted a decline in the population of rooks. This did not happen - the birds moved to other tall trees.

The rook should be regarded as a farmer's friend because they feed on fields and destroy large numbers of pests which live in the soil. Of all the members of the crow family the rook is far and away the most useful.