A rare fungus included in a list of the world’s most threatened species has been discovered at a reservoir.

The willow blister fungus, also known as Cryptomyces maximus, was found on a coppiced willow tree at Rutland Water during a bat box survey by an officer from Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.

It was only the second recording in England since 1876 of the spotty fungus, which was previously known from just a handful of sites in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

A sample was taken to the trust’s volunteer training centre for formal identification, which was confirmed by a mycologist from London’s Kew Gardens.