WORK by the National Trust to remove rhododendron from an area of land at Coniston Head has left residents fearing for the safety of otters.

The area, known locally as the 'Labyrinth' or the 'Wig Wam' has been the location of a number of otter sightings over the years.

It is feared that the work being done there, which includes the cutting down and burning of the invasive plant species, will disrupt any otters that may be nesting there at the moment.

Judith Myers, a resident whose father farmed the land for 38 years, said: "Otters are seen regularly going across the road from the lake to the Wig Wam. I personally cannot believe that they just use it as a place to go.

"I was appalled to see a plume of smoke and ten to 12 volunteers making a fire right by the Wig Wam.

"It has been said that the area is of architectural importance so must be worked on, but it is a swamp. You can hardly walk across it.

"It's far nicer that the wildlife are using it and the work will drive them out."

The rhododendron is being removed as it can damage buried archaeology and carries Phytopthera Ramorum: a disease which affects several tree species, particularly larch.

The National Trust has stressed that thorough checks were carried out on the site to ensure that the work did not pose a risk to wildlife.

Upon checking rangers reported that they found no tracks in the area, and no other field evidence such as spraints (droppings).

Paul Kear, lead ranger for the National Trust at Coniston, said: "Our woodland ranger checked the land before the work started last year.

"There was no sign of otters using the land and we found no otter holes in there at all.

"This doesn't mean that they don't go through the site. If otters have been seen then that is good; as far as we are concerned we are not causing any damage to otter habitats."