BIRD watchers gathered at a nature reserve to catch a once in a lifetime glimpse a rare purple heron.

The bird, one of the rarest in the UK, breeds in southern Europe.

Yesterday it was spotted at Wat Tyler Country Park, in Pitsea.

Over a dozen bird watchers flocked to the park to capture the bird on camera.

It only visits Britain in small numbers each year.

Dave Lovett, who owns Benfleet Glass, in London Road, Benfleet, spotted the sighting online after it was circulated on bird watching websites.

He said: “It’s exciting for the people who want to catch a look at the bird.

“It is rare.

“It saves Essex bird watchers from having to travel halfway across the country to catch a glimpse.”

Purple heron's are similar in appearance to the more common grey heron.

They are slightly smaller, more slender and of darker colour.

They like to be near water, particularly reed beds, and hunt for a range of prey including fish, rodents, frogs and insects.