Hayley MaceControversial proposals to release sea eagles along the Suffolk coast have been scrapped because of government funding difficulties.Conservation body Natural England, which has been leading the project with the RSPB, announced this morning that it will not continue with the project to introduce white-tailed sea eagles to Suffolk.Hayley Mace

Controversial proposals to release sea eagles along the Suffolk coast have been scrapped because of government funding difficulties.

Conservation body Natural England, which has been leading the project with the RSPB, announced this morning that it will not continue with the project to introduce white-tailed sea eagles to Suffolk.

Dr Tom Tew, chief scientist for Natural England, said: 'We have taken the decision to withdraw from the project at this stage because we believe it would be inappropriate to commit public funds to an extensive public consultation over a project that we would, in the foreseeable future, be unable to fund.'

Nicola Currie, eastern region director for the Country Land and Business Association, said: 'The correct decision has been made both for the region's economy and its wildlife.'

The RSPB, which had also been working on the project, said it would now consider whether it could push ahead with the scheme without Natural England.

t For more, see tomorrow's paper.