Wildlife organisations say that rich mudflats at Strangford Lough in Co Down could be destroyed by intensive commercial cockle farming.

Tractors and dredgers moved in this week to begin harvesting the shellfish.

Wildlife and Wetlands Trust spokesman James Orr says a legal loophole is allowing the harvesting to continue despite the risk to the mudflats at Strangford Lough.

James Orr: "Site ravaged for commercial reasons"

"Under European legislation, Strangford Lough has been designated as a key wildlife site," he said.

"We are finding it is being ravaged for commercial reasons."

He said that the legal loophole had been closed in England, Scotland and Wales but Northern Ireland was lagging behind.

The cockle farmers say they are only skimming the surface of the mudflats and young cockles will grow in place of the harvested shellfish.

But Mr Orr says the cockle farming is being carried out on a huge scale.