An otter they can't refuse?

7:00am Friday 28th March 2008

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A COLEHILL family is hoping a hungry otter will save green belt land near their home from development.

The Grinston family of Pilford Heath Road has lost koi karp valued at £3500 to the voracious appetite of the protected mammal.

The web-footed prowler emptied the Grinston's pond over a period of about five weeks, starting in November. Thirty koi carp and numerous smaller fish were eaten.

The otter has continued its regular visits to the Grinston's pond, despite its diminished appeal as a larder.

"It uses the pond as a diving pool. It swims, and then runs around the garden and under the children's trampoline. Its quite a spectacle," said Mrs Grinston.

But the Grinstons have learned to appreciate their furry visitor for its beauty, and for the part it might play in the fight against proposals for a development of 60 homes on land behind near-by Heath Close.

"An otter is a protected species and this is its habitat. If one area of green belt goes, in time the field will go, and the wildlife will be lost," said Mrs Grinston.

But Mike Hirsh, East Dorset District Council's planning chief, said the river-free area was unlikely to provide a sustainable home for the amphibious mammal.

"It is most unlikely that this area is a sustainable habitat for otters. It is, therefore, unlikely to have any material impact on the decision making process," said Mr Hirsh.

A spokesman for Natural England said otters are a European Protected Species.

"It is an offence to deliberately capture, kill, disturb a European Protected Species or to damage or destroy their breeding site or resting place," a spokesman said.