A three-year-project to help boost sand dune-living rare beetle and toad numbers is to start later this year.

Last week the government announced several projects it was funding to protect threatened species including a scheme aiming to increase the numbers of northern dune tiger beetles and natterjack toads in Cumbria.

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (Arc) official Jack Harper said the region was one of the "last strongholds" in Britain for the toad which is known for its loud mating call.