Volunteers to count squirrels in north of England

Red squirrels are under threat from greys

More than 100 volunteers are to visit woods in the north of England to count under-threat red squirrels.

The "Red Army" will visit 270 woodlands in Northumberland, Cumbria, Lancashire, Durham and North Yorkshire over the next two months.

Their aim is to count squirrels and collect their hairs on sticky pads for analysis to determine their species.

The Northumberland Wildlife Trust is also trying to determine whether conservation schemes are working.

Native red squirrels are under threat from greys which carry a lethal virus.

The volunteers will be working under the guidance of staff from the Red Squirrels Northern England (RSNE) conservation partnership.