Project managers hope to breathe new life into thousands more former ponds over the next few years.

A project involving farmers and nature conservationists is celebrating the restoration of 400 “lost” farmland ponds in Essex.

A century ago there were more than 17,000 in the county.

Today only 3,500 survive in good condition, with a similar number needing restoration.

Essex Wildlife Trust, the RSPB, Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group East and farmers have joined forces to reinstate them.