A rare bat which is thought to have travelled as far as 1,000 miles (1,609km) has been rescued after crash-landing into a car windscreen.
The Nathusius’ pipistrelle, which suffered some bruising in the crash in Whitburn, South Tyneside, has been rehabilitated by carers in Sunderland.
The Durham Bat Group said it was a “once-in-a-lifetime” sighting of a species mainly found in Russia and Poland, and described the find as “significant”.
After several days of treatment the bat, affectionately named Nancy by her carers, was released to find those who had been flying alongside her.