Water voles will be spotted paddling the River Wandle next year, as part of a £1m regeneration of the area.

The semi-aquatic rodents are finally scurrying back to Sutton, having turned their backs on the borough for half a century.

The River Wandle and Wandle Trail will be home to a new meadow, a nature reserve, and 4km of walking and cycle paths, as part of a £1m rejuvenation project.

The funding is made up of a £390,000 grant from the Mayor of London’s Big Green Fund, alongside donations from 13 other organisations.

Sutton Council is pumping £20,000 into rejuvenating the River Wandle and Wandle Trail, despite having to trim £40m off their annual budget by 2019.

The council say the work will be finished by April next year.

Water voles will roam free once the revamp is complete, providing a licence is approved by Natural England.

The body advises central government on how to look after the country’s natural landscape and wildlife.

Jill Whitehead, chair of the environment and neighbourhoods committee, said: "The project will re-open Watermeads nature reserve to the public and improve access to the River Wandle.

"This will be done by connecting Poulter Park in Sutton and Watermeads in Merton with 4km of new landscaped walking and cycling paths.

“Spencer Road Wetlands in Hackbridge will have a new boardwalk and viewing platforms so that the nature reserve can be re-opened to visitors. It has been closed for the past two years because of safety concerns.”