Lord says feed squirrels to kids

Grey squirrels should be put on the menu for school dinners to help protect the endangered red species, according to a member of the House Of Lords.

Lord Inglewood reckons the move might be just the ticket to stop greys pushing reds to the brink of dying out.

"Unless something imaginative is done, Squirrel Nutkin and his friends are going to be toast," he said.

"What about celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver promoting the grey for school dinners?" he added.

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Greys were brought into the UK from America in the 19th Century.

The red is native to the UK, but greys starting pushing them out of their homes. The creatures also carry a disease which has killed off the red.

There are currently about 2m greys in the country, compared to just 160,000 reds.

Most reds can now only be found in Scotland, Cumbria, Northumbria, the Isle of Wight and islands in Poole harbour.

"I must confess that I have never actually eaten a grey squirrel... but I am prepared to give it a go," said Lord Inglewood.