An extremely rare Norfolk native is hopping around happily in a Breckland nature reserve - after being brought back from extinction in the UK.

The northern pool frog, England’s rarest amphibian, has been successfully reintroduced to Thompson Common, near Watton - the last place it was recorded before becoming extinct in this country in the 1990s.

Staff from Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) released tadpoles and frogs into the reserve's pingos, post-glacial pools which offer the perfect habitat for the creatures.

It was the final phase in a process which began in 2015 to re-establish a self-sustaining wild population of pool frogs at their Norfolk home.

Eastern Daily Press: Emily Jordan of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation with a northern pool frog tadpole ready to be released at Thompson CommonEmily Jordan of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation with a northern pool frog tadpole ready to be released at Thompson Common (Image: Archant)

Jim Foster, conservation director at ARC, said: "It is not often that you can say that you brought an animal back from extinction, but that is exactly what you can see here today.

"It is only because of the dedicated work here over the last few years we have been able to bring it back.

"The fantastic thing about Thompson Common is the sheer number and quality of the ponds here. Quite a lot are known as pingos, these glacial relic ponds which seem to form ideal conditions for pool frogs.

"They are very open to the sun and they hold water all through the year, which is really important for the pool frog."

Following the northern pool frog's demise, a project originally brought them back to a secret location in Norfolk in 2005, as part of a trial reintroduction using frogs captured in Sweden.

The Thompson Common scheme began in 2015, using tadpoles taken from the wild as spawn and reared in captivity under carefully-controlled conditions - a process known as "head-starting".

Now there are thought to be at least 30 adults there, and conservationists are confident they will continue to breed and become a self-sustaining population.

Eastern Daily Press: Rare northern pool frogs and tadpoles being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near WattonRare northern pool frogs and tadpoles being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near Watton (Image: Archant)

Jon Preston, conservation manager for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, which manages the reserve, said: "This is such an iconic species that fits in so well with the landscape we have got here.

"We are starting to see the sustainability of the population, they are breeding on site and we are seeing them spread further out from these release pools.

"It means the partnership, the head-starting and all the management work we do on site is all working."

Eastern Daily Press: Rare northern pool frogs being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near WattonRare northern pool frogs being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near Watton (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation project officer Ben King releasing rare northern pool frogs at Thompson Common, near WattonAmphibian and Reptile Conservation project officer Ben King releasing rare northern pool frogs at Thompson Common, near Watton (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Rare northern pool frogs and tadpoles have been released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near WattonRare northern pool frogs and tadpoles have been released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near Watton (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Rare northern pool frogs and tadpoles being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near WattonRare northern pool frogs and tadpoles being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near Watton (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Emily Jordan of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation releasing northern pool frog tadpoles at Thompson CommonEmily Jordan of the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation releasing northern pool frog tadpoles at Thompson Common (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Rare northern pool frog tadpoles being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near WattonRare northern pool frog tadpoles being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near Watton (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation staff releasing northern pool frog tadpoles at Thompson CommonAmphibian and Reptile Conservation staff releasing northern pool frog tadpoles at Thompson Common (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Rare northern pool frogs being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near WattonRare northern pool frogs being released at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve at Thompson Common, near Watton (Image: Archant)

Eastern Daily Press: Amphibian and Reptile Conservation project officer Ben King releasing rare northern pool frogs at Thompson Common, near WattonAmphibian and Reptile Conservation project officer Ben King releasing rare northern pool frogs at Thompson Common, near Watton (Image: Archant)