OTTERS are returning to west Wiltshire after many years absence, according to a survey published this week.

The National Otter Survey for England, produced by the Environment Agency and The Wildlife Trusts, revealed that one in five sites investigated in Wiltshire now had signs of otters.

In the three previous surveys since the late 1970s there were no positive otter sites in the county.

Mark Satinet, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's otters and rivers project officer, said there were positive signs for otters in west Wiltshire.

He said: "Fifteen months ago an otter was killed in a road accident near Chippenham on the A4. Since then we've got some definite sightings in the same area.

"We've also just found signs of otters on the Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington.

"And we know that there have been resident otters around Bradford on Avon for seven or eight years now.

"Others have slowly been moving up the River Wylye past Warminster and are now in the Smallbrook Meadows nature reserve.

Mr Satinet said the otters still faced difficulties.

"Incidents in Chippenham and Bradford show that there is a definite problem with road accidents but we are hoping we've got beyond this at many sites."