A conservation group which wants to reintroduce wild lynx to Britain has decided on a preferred site.

The Lynx UK Trust has settled on the Kielder Forest in Northumbria after shelving plans for a potential trial reintroduction in Aberdeenshire.

Conservationists say the low population and lack of roads or railways make the forest, which runs along the border between Scotland and England, the ideal site.

Chief scientific adviser Dr Paul O'Donoghue said: "Within the team we always suspected Kielder had the right mixture but it was important to really investigate what each site offered and to pay real attention to what stakeholders were telling us.

"Balancing up the many factors Kielder has continually stood out as a place where the lynx can flourish and bring huge benefits to the local community."

Lynx were hunted to extinction in the UK more than 1300 years ago and Britain's surging wild deer population has been attributed to a lack of natural predators.

A survey of 9000 people found 91% supported a trial reintroduction but the plans have been opposed by farming organisations.

Dates for a series of public consultations on the plans are expected to be announced later this year.