Plans to create an artificial island on the River Ouse to help wildlife and improve water quality have been put forward.

Environmental charity St Nicks wants to install the pontoon-like structure on the river near North Street Gardens in York.

A spokesperson for the charity said the “floating ecosystem” would “inject life” into that part of the River Ouse and give birds a place to “rest and nest”.

They said the island would be attached to the river wall via an anchoring system so it could rise and fall during flooding.