White-tailed eagles to be released across Exmoor National Park

White-tailed eagles are to be released across Exmoor National Park from this summer, the Government has announced.

Up to 20 young birds - which are the UK's biggest bird of prey - will be released over three years.

Supporters of the project say that the eagles will help biodiversity, nature recovery and eco-tourism.

However, some sheep farmers are concerned that the large birds could prey on their livestock.

White-tailed eagles are sometimes nicknamed "flying barn doors" because of their immense wingspan of up to 2.4 metres - broader than a golden eagle's.

The birds were once widespread in southern England until the 18th century when habitat loss and human activity led to them being wiped out in the region.

Some eagles are already known to have visited Exmoor since the birds were released on the nearby Isle of Wight seven years ago.

The team behind the reintroduction say that all of the birds that will be released in Exmoor will be fitted with satellite tags.

This will allow experts, led by Forestry England and the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, to track their locations and study their progress.

Steve Egerton-Read, from Forestry England, said it was hoped their release would help to boost numbers "and continue their spread across southern England".

It's not the first time that the birds have made a comeback in the UK.

White-tailed eagles have previously been successfully reintroduced in Scotland.

The first successful reintroduction began fifty years ago on the Isle of Rum, in Scotland's Inner Hebrides.

However, as more schemes have been launched over the years, their return has not always been welcomed.

Some Scottish farmers say they are losing tens of thousands of pounds of livestock each year as the eagles take vulnerable lambs.

A spokeswoman for the National Sheep Association (NSA) said the organisation had "concerns when new white-tailed sea eagle releases are discussed".

However, Natural England - the government's wildlife licensing authority - said the reintroduction would be "carefully planned" alongside local landowners.

They added that they would "closely monitor" how the project on Exmoor is carried out.