A PROJECT to establish two more colonies of the UK's rarest spider at RSPB Arne has been given a cash boost of more than £16,000.

The Ladybird Spider, named because of the bright red and black markings on the male during the mating season, was thought to be extinct until 1979.

Later web counts, in 1994, revealed just 56 ladybird spiders left at the Arne reserve. Since then, eight new colonies have been introduced at Arne and on other heathlands across Dorset.

The latest project, thanks to the £16364 grant from the Veolia Environmental Trust, will enable charity Buglife to introduce two more colonies at Arne.

Buglife’s conservation projects manager Andrew Whitehouse said: "The Ladybird spider is one of most gorgeous, but endangered spiders.

"We thank The Veolia Environmental Trust for supporting us to ensure a brighter future for the Ladybird spider."

The grant is one of 43 the Veolia board has awarded, through the Landfill Communities Fund, to community and environmental projects in England.

Veolia Environmental Trust executive director Paul Taylor said: "This project will transform the chances of survival for this important species.

"We are seeing an ongoing reduction in the amount of funds that we can award, so Buglife needs to be congratulated on securing this grant in an extremely competitive environment."

The ladybird spider (Eresus sandaliatus) was thought to be extinct in the UK since 1906, when it was last recorded in Bournemouth.

But it was rediscovered at a secret location in Dorset in 1979 by Dr Peter Merrett and the diminutive creepy crawlies have been coaxed back from the brink.

Careful management has resulted in a healthy population of the arachnids, whose males measure 6-9mm while the females measure 10-16mm.

Fussy about their habitat, they like patchy, well- drained, south-facing lowland heath.