IT was a hare-raising experience for staff at the region’s youngest nature reserve as the TV cameras came to town.

Film crews from BBC’s Countryfile programme visited Brockholes to flim hares running around the site and boxing.

Viewers will be able to see the end result when the show is aired on BBC One at 7pm on Easter Sunday.

It will also be a chance to see the full-time presenting debut of Paralympic athlete Steve Brown.

It was not the first time the Countryfile cameras have rolled into Brockholes as the nature reserve previously featured on the show in 2011, although it will be the maiden attempt at filming the boxing hares.

Events and communications manager Sarah Leach said: “When our staff or volunteers arrive at Brockholes in the morning we often see brown hares running around the site.

"We have even seen them boxing from the office window in spring.

“Countryfile got to hear about this and asked if they could come down to film this. Of course we were delighted to host them.

“It was a bit like a TV drama with unexpected twists and turns – like the workmen delivering hardcore just as Countryfile were about to start filming.

“It was quite tense and we were just hoping and hoping that some brown hares would appear to put the icing on the cake of a really great day for Brockholes.”

During a recce of the site the Countryfile team spotted one hare but not the numbers outlined by The Lancashire Wildlife Trust, which owns the nature reserve.

The trust's head of marketing, Lindsey Poole, said: “I think they fell in love with the reserve and said they would come along to film wildlife at Brockholes. If we saw the brown hares it would be a huge bonus.

“We met them at 6am and spent a day getting some wonderful wildlife on film. They have displaying kestrels and lapwings, flying swans, 20 snipe feeding on an island and a camera-friendly little ringed plover."

Speaking ahead of his debut alongside Matt Baker, Anita Rani, Adam Henson and Tom Heap, Mr Brown said: “I want to be judged on my performance. I’m hoping people will see it’s about ability, not disability.”

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