Britain's 20 most endangered species have been identified for the first time by a host of wildlife and woodland charities, as Natural England has launched a campaign to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

The charities, including the RSPB and the Woodland Trust, have been given over £7.7 million in funding from the National Lottery and other donors to work together to save the endangered animals and plants.

Since the ambitious project began a year ago, the charities have already managed to reintroduce of the Chequered Skipper butterfly to the Rockingham Forest area of Northamptonshire. It had been extinct in England since 1976.

Now, the various charities are working together for the first time to safeguard the rest of the animals on the list.

The species include the pine marten, which used to be Britain's third most common predator until it was hunted almost to extinction for its beautiful pelt.

While the population is recovering in Scotland, they are scarce in England. By the conclusion of this project, it is hoped they begin to colonise in Northumberland and Cumbria.