THAMES Water and London Wildlife Trust have joined forces to help boost conservation in the capital.

The two organisations will try to make greater use of Thames Water's sites as wildlife havens, including Crossness Nature Reserve in Abbey Wood and the Walthamstow reservoirs.

They also hope to inspire schoolchildren and the community to protect biodiversity while teaching the importance of issues such as water resourcing, safe sanitation, water efficiency and conservation.

Thames Water’s head of corporate responsibility, Helen Newman, said: "Protecting wildlife and enhancing biodiversity is very important to us and we are delighted to form this alliance with such a fantastic organisation.

"Our sewage and water treatment sites are tremendous refuges for a surprisingly rich variety of wildlife and this partnership will help us to protect it where it is most needed.

"Our aim is to inspire and engage local people and if we can provide better access to our best sites then it is certainly a leap in the right direction."