A SPECIES of creature never recorded in Britain before has been discovered in the heart of York.

The tiny leaf miner known as Phytomyza scotina, is normally found in Europe, from Germany to Russia, but while carrying out a survey looking for leaf miners in York Museum Gardens, expert Barry Warrington collected a number of unusual samples.

Stuart Ogilvy, Assistant Curator of Natural sciences at York Museums Trust, said further study showed the discovery was a British first.

He said: "To some people the tiny leaf miners are best known for the patterns their larvae create when feeding in leaves.

"We have quite a few different species of them in York Museum Gardens but it is fantastic that Barry’s research has shown us that this includes a species unique to Britain. It again proves the diversity of life which is right here in the centre of York and how important these green spaces are for nature and also for us to enjoy."

The gardens are wildlife friendly, and saw the Tansy Beetle reintroduced in 2012, and a nationally rare White Spotted Black Micro Moth never found before in Yorkshire was discovered in 2014.