A wildlife trust has today launched a new appeal to help raise �1m to purchase a stretch of north Norfolk's wild coastline.

A section of privately owned land of about 58 hectares (143 acres) between Cley and Salthouse Marshes was recently put on the open market.

And now Norfolk Wildlife Trust (NWT) has found a way of securing it through a special finance facility being offered by a major charitable foundation.

Chief executive Brendan Joyce said: 'When this land on the north Norfolk coast suddenly came on the market, all eyes fell on Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

'Situated next to the Trust's world-famous nature reserve, Cley Marshes with Salthouse Marshes on the other side, it spurred much excitement and expectation among our membership, the Norfolk public and bird watchers around the world, wondering what the Trust would do.

'We rise to the challenge to protect Norfolk's wildlife but we need everyone's help to make this possible.'

The NWT now has to raise �1m in 22 months to complete the purchase - the biggest appeal in the Trust's 86 year history.

Mr Joyce added: 'While it may seem a long time, this is an incredible challenge alongside restoring and protecting the 10,000 acres currently in our care.'

The area lies off the A149, between the NWT's Cley Marshes reserve to its north, and the National Trust's Granborough Hill, to the south.

The area includes grazing marshes, reed beds, freshwater and saline ponds and will connect Norfolk's coastline between Blakeney Point and Salthouse Marshes, establishing an 8km stretch of coast in the conservation care of NWT and National Trust.

? For more information please visit www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/appeal or call 01603 625540.

? For the full story see tomorrow's EDP.