A river restoration project has seen the return of otters to the Isle of Wight.
The Eastern Yar river has been surveyed for the past 17 years, but this is the first time evidence of their presence has been found.
It is hoped they will now reside here and eventually breed.
The East Yar Project Group, a group of ten farmers and landowners, has been working in partnership with the Down to the Coast Landscape Partnership Scheme. Both programmes are co-ordinated by the Isle of Wight AONB.
Together they have removed shading trees and constructed fish passes on the river between Budbridge, above Newchurch and Longwood Lane, in Sandown.
They say this has improved conditions for river wildlife including the rare water vole, dragonflies and water plants.
In 2015, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust and Down to the Coast commissioned a survey of the river for water voles. No signs of otter were found.
A repeat of the survey this summer has found not only water vole, eels and harvest mouse but positive signs of otters in the river.
Although a number of reports had been received in the past few years, surveys have now shown that otters are active along the river upstream of Horringford.
Andy Rothwell, who carried out the survey said:
"It has been a very special delight to discover that an otter has explored much further inland than we have found before and reached the Eastern Yar. I have surveyed the river several times in the last seventeen years and always thought that it should easily be able to support otters, but found no evidence of such activity, until now!
"Otters are slow breeders so any increases may not be confirmed for many years to come. However, with continued support and work on both sides of The Solent, the Isle of Wight could very easily become a main-stay for this endearing and enchanting riparian mammal."
Richard Grogan, Lead Officer for the Isle of Wight Area AONB and Isle of Wight Mammals Recorder said:
"We are extremely pleased with this unexpected result of the work carried out by both the east Yar Project Group and partners in the river and the surrounding areas. Whilst we cannot confirm that the otters are resident and breeding, it is a situation that we will continue to monitor. Otters last bred on the Island in the 1950’s."
David Brown, Chair of the East Yar Project Group said:
"We are pleased that the work we have done on the river has brought this much-loved mammal back to the Island. We wait to see if a population becomes established or whether these sightings are just a very adventurous individual."
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