Beavers introduced as part of a trial in the North York Moors have been found to cut flood risk downstream while boosting wildlife, according to new research.

The study, led by the University of Leeds and published in the journal Ecohydrology, focused on a beaver enclosure in Cropton Forest, where two animals were released in 2019 as part of a scheme led by Forestry England and licensed by Natural England.

The site had already been fitted with natural flood management measures to protect nearby villages from flooding.