A section of a Shotley peninsula beach has been roped off to protect nesting birds.

Officers from the RSPB, working with Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB, sealed off a 100 metre part of the shingle beach near Shotley mud flats to try and prevent scaring off breeding pairs of the increasingly scarce Ringed Plovers that favour laying their eggs on that terrain.

Ringed Plover on Shotley foreshore

Dog walkers are being asked to keep their animals on the lead as they walk through the Shotley marina and public footpaths nearby to prevent disturbance and rabble's are requested to tick to the pathways.

Meanwhile, Suffolk Police are taking part in the annual operation to deter the theft of rare birds' eggs now the nesting season is under way.

Operation Easter was developed in Scotland 25 years ago and engages forces across the UK under the leadership of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU).

The operation targets egg thieves by sharing intelligence to support enforcement action. In recent years the operation has also been expanded to cover some emerging trends of criminal behaviour such as the online trade in eggs and the disturbance of nests for photography.

The taking of wild bird eggs is a serious crime – whole clutches of eggs can be taken from some of the UK's rarest birds with potentially devastating impacts and stored in secret collections.

Operation Seabird (Peninsula Nub News)

Sgt Brian Calver, of Suffolk Police's Rural and Wildlife Team, said: "Operation Easter is embedded within wildlife crime policing and we work with colleagues across the country to deter this crime which can have a serious environmental impact. We also want to highlight to the public the importance of this campaign in protecting many of our well-loved wild bird species."

If you have any information on egg thieves, or those who disturb rare nesting birds without a license, you should contact your local police by phoning 101 and ask to speak to Sgt Brian Calver. Information can also be passed in confidence to Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.