Rare bird's eggs that were rescued from muddy farmland following heavy downpours have successfully hatched.

Eastern Daily Press: Godwit eggs rescued from muddy farmland in Nene Washes have hatched successfully Picture: Courtesy of WWTGodwit eggs rescued from muddy farmland in Nene Washes have hatched successfully Picture: Courtesy of WWT (Image: Courtesy of WWT)

Godwits were forced to nest away from the safety of their wetland habitat in the Nene Washes due to flooding, leaving their eggs in poor condition.

But conservationists from the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) teamed up with farmers to rescue the eggs to rear and release, known as head-starting.

Some 32 eggs were collected and so far 15 have hatched through the conservation scheme Project Godwit - a partnership between WWT and RSPB.

Rebecca Lee, principal species conservation officer at WWT, said: 'Conditions were so bad that we were concerned that they might not survive.

'A number of the eggs that we did manage to collect were in such bad condition that they resembled muddy potatoes.

'Thankfully, the majority of these eggs have shown signs of life and many have hatched successfully despite our reservations.'