DORSET could soon see the return of one its most majestic birds - the red kite.

New figures show that the population of red kites in the UK has shot up to its highest level in 150 years. The UK population now stands at 429 pairs, 131 of which are in England. Three pairs bred in the south of the country this year.

Richard Archer, RSPB conservation officer for the South West, said: "It's nice to be able to report a conservation success story for a change.

"We know that three pairs bred in southern England this year with another five holding territories, and there are many areas across the south west where conditions are suitable for the return of these beautiful birds.

"Red kites are magnificent, richly-coloured birds - they are rusty and red underneath and have a forked tail and angled wings with a white patch and black tips."

The red kite disappeared from England more than 100 years ago, but has been successfully reintroduced in recent years.

Mr Archer said: "They were once widespread across the UK and were even regular scavengers on the streets of London in the Middle Ages. We are hopeful that this slow but definite recovery will see them return to their former haunts."

The population of rare bird species resident in the UK has almost doubled over the last 30 years largely thanks to milder winters and effective campaigns to save them, the Government has revealed.

Defined as species with fewer than 500 breeding pairs, birds such as the corncrake, bittern and stone curlew have flourished, according to the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

But there was also mixed news as it emerged that the past 25 years have seen a sharp decline in the number of farmland birds whose population numbers are known to fluctuate from year to year.

This meant that while species such as the gold finch and the endangered and vulnerable red linnet and tree sparrow are showing signs of recovery, the grey partridge, skylark and kestrel remain in long-term decline.

The figures, produced by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology, provide an overview of the population trends of native birds between 1970 and 1999.

According to the figures, populations of wild birds grew by up to five per cent between 1998 and 1999, the first increase since 1995.

In addition the number of farmland birds are still believed to be 41 per cent lower and woodland birds 14 per cent lower than their populations in the 1970s.

Woodland species include small birds which are vulnerable to cold winters.