A NIGHT out with a difference was the order of the day for a group of youngsters and their parents on a bat-detecting trip.

The families saw the wilder side of Dartford Marshes' nightlife during a walk around the area just after dusk.

The event, organised by Groundwork, was an opportunity to see bats, owls and water voles in their natural habitat.

It was one of a series of activities funded by GlaxoSmithKline as part of international Earth Week.

Groundwork's conservation officer James Field said: "For a lot of children the atmosphere on the marsh at night was a novel experience and they were thrilled to get so close to the bats and other creatures of the night."

April 29, 2003 10:00