THE Westcountry Rivers Trust is creating new salmon spawning habitats by adding gravel to rivers in Devon and West Somerset.

Funded by South West Water, the project aims to increase the number of salmon and trout by creating gravel beds, which these fish need to build nests for their eggs.

Tonnes of granite gravel have now been added to sections of the Haddeo on Exmoor.

Along with researchers from Plymouth University, the Westcountry Rivers Trust will monitor the movement of the gravel along the river as well as comparing the numbers of salmon and trout with previous years.

Matt Healey, land and fisheries officer for the Westcountry Rivers Trust, said: “Gravel beds are essential for salmon and trout to spawn.

"They seek out these habitats to cut redds because when water travels through the gravel it carries oxygen to the eggs, which they need to survive."