A visitor centre has been opened to offer better views of a colony of rare birds.

Seasonal viewing structures and a visitor centre have been built at the UK’s largest little tern colony on Gronant beach, which is managed by Denbighshire County Council.

The structures are put up when the terns are nesting, offering the public closer views of the birds without disturbing them.

The visitor centre offers shelter in bad weather along with reference material, images beamed live from nests and a space to learn more about the project.

Cllr Tony Thomas, Denbighshire’s lead member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, said:

“Protecting and enhancing the environment is a priority for the Council under our Corporate Plan and our work at the little tern colony is one of many projects that help us achieve this.

“I’d like to thank the North Wales Little Tern Group for its support on this project, which further enhances the experience for visitors at the little tern colony, as well as their help with the clean up after Storm Hector in June.”

Gronant is the only little tern breeding colony in Wales and contributes more than 10 per cent of the entire UK breeding population.

The birds come to the UK every year from West Africa to breed in Gronant and there are currently 174 pairs at the site.