RECORD numbers of a rare and threatened butterfly have been spotted at a Bideford nature reserve.

The Devon Wildlife Trust (DWT) says it has recorded more than 430 marsh fritillaries at its Stowford nature reserve.

The success, which comes as the site celebrates its 10th anniversary, has been put down to the careful management of the culm grassland.

DWT's senior nature reserves officer Gary Pilkington said: "The sunny weather has helped this year but the good numbers have also been down to the particular management regime we have fine tuned over the years including periodic grazing, good scrub control by burning and the encouragement of the butterfly's food plant - the Devil's-bit scabious.

"It's great news that after 10 years of hard work we are starting to see results here at Stowford and thankfully the same techniques have resulted in good counts at our other culm reserves too.

"It's very difficult to understand why this species is on the danger list in other parts of Great Britain as it readily responds to sensitive management."

The trust said Marsh fritillary butterflies appear on the wing from the end of May each year until mid June. They lay their eggs in small heaps on the underside of leaves of Devil's-bit scabious. After hatching, the larvae spin a silken web on the leaves feeding only on sunny days before going into hibernation in August or September.