A THERMAL imaging camera produced by a defence, security and advanced engineering company in Basildon will capture the nocturnal behaviours of British wildlife in BBC’s nature series Springwatch.

The Horizon camera, made by company Leonardo, based in Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, has helped to unlock the mysterious world of previously unseen nocturnal animal behaviours.

This included footage of owls, along with badgers, foxes, hares, rabbits, bats and voles all going about their lives under the cover of darkness.

Stuart Ashley, project chief engineer for thermal cameras said: “Unlike other low light and infrared cameras, thermal cameras like the Horizon camera can be based a great distance away from the wildlife.

“This is less intrusive for the animals, but also allows the camera operators greater opportunity to capture behaviours over a wide area as they happen, without having to constantly move around and risk missing critical shots.

“The cameras are regularly capturing previously undiscovered animal behaviours.

“We’re proud to support the study of wildlife in its natural environment, so that we can make a contribution to the study of animal behaviour which has fascinated the public in Britain for many years.”

Thermal imaging cameras have been produced at Leonardo’s Basildon site for more than 65 years, and they are increasingly being used in a wide range of nature series.

This has included Lion Country: Night and Day (ITV), Gorilla Family and Me (BBC2) and The Hunt (BBC) among others.

Often referred to as “the camera which can see further than you can”, one of Leonardo’s thermal imaging cameras recently captured award-winning footage of leopards hunting in Mumbai, as part of the award-winning Planet Earth 2, presented by David Attenborough.

Due to its all-weather capability, the camera is popular with cameramen, as it gives them the ability to respond quickly to emerging action, while delivering high quality images, regardless of the weather conditions or time of day.

The Horizon camera is in use by the Springwatch team in every episode this week and readers can tune in to see it in action tonight or tomorrow at 8pm. Springwatch films across the country capturing animal behaviours.

An MP congratulated five businesses after they received top marks in a national report.

MP John Baron congratulated the five companies in his constituency of Basildon and Billericay which feature in the recently launched London Stock Exchange Group’s 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain 2018 report.

Speaking about the businesses Mr Baron said: “I am delighted to congratulate these businesses for achieving this acknowledgement.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and innovation is vital to help the UK compete in the world market place.

“I am also thrilled that this is another sign the local economy is thriving and is a great place to live and work.”

Cormac Hicks, managing director at Tunnelcraft Ltd, one of the businesses in the report, said: “We look forward to continued success in an industry which shows a promising pipeline of work and will continue to invest in people. We would also like to thank John Baron MP for his continued support of local businesses.”