£1m scheme to save red squirrels

The biggest ever campaign to make sure red squirrels are around for future generations has been launched.

The creature used to be a common sight in the UK, but when grey squirrels were introduced from North America in the 19th Century, they started dying out.

The grey is better at getting food and it carries a virus which kills out the red. This has led to greys now outnumbering reds by 66 to one.

The £1m campaign is focusing on 16 red squirrel reserves in northern England.

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Efforts will focus on keeping greys out of these areas as well as training landowners and farmers to help protect the creatures.

The reserves are in Northumberland, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Merseyside.

Red squirrel populations are also under threat in other parts of Europe and it's hoped that lessons can be learned from the UK scheme to help creatures elsewhere.