EU laws that have protected hundreds of conservation sites and the species that live in them for decades could be watered down or lost with the EU withdrawal bill.

Environmental standards are at risk across the board, from wildlife and habitats to water and air quality, a risk assessment shows

Stretching over 18 % of the EU’s land area and almost 9,5% % of its marine territory, it is the largest coordinated network of protected areas in the world. It offers a haven to Europe's most valuable and threatened species and habitats.

Environment secretary George Eustice wants to tear up a key piece of European law that environmentalists say protects cherished habitats in the UK.