RESULTS of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch has shown the long-tailed tit has had a successful year.

More than 11,500 people took part in counting the number of birds in their garden across the county.

The event revealed an increase in sightings of smaller birds that can usually be seen visiting gardens and outside spaces in flocks.

These small birds are thought to have benefited from the mild January weather as long-tailed tit sightings for Lancashire were up 14 per cent, and starlings eight per cent on 2017’s figures for the county.

Daniel Hayhow, RSPB conservation scientist, said: "Last summer was a really good year for many breeding birds with warm weather creating great conditions for many smaller birds to raise their young to adulthood."