A FORMER Bude man will appear on the popular Sunday night BBC television programme 'Countryfile' early next month.

Steven Hudson, son of Mike and Yvonne of Bude, has for the past 18 months been the Project Officer for the Wears Rivers Trust, where he monitors the quality in the River Wear in County Durham, near Newcastle.

The Wears Rivers Trust is a conservation charity that was formed following a merger between the Weardale Environmental Trust and the River Wear Environmental Trust. The post of project officer was created and funded by the trust, with the help of the Environmental Agency.

Steve was born in Bude and grew up in the town, attending Budehaven School before moving onto study for a Plymouth University accredited degree in sustainable river basin management at Camborne College.

On Sunday, April 1 he will appear with presenter Julia Bradbury taking 'kick samples'.

Steve demonstrates and explains the technique, in which the sediment is stirred up at the bottom of the river allowing the collection and examination of invertebrates — in turn helping provide an indication of the water's cleanliness.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, please see this week's edition of the 'Post'.