Claim red squirrels spotted near county

Are there red squirrels in the wild in the countryside around Shropshire? That's the question being posed by conservationists after two "probable" sightings of the rare species near Market Drayton.

Now wildlife lovers are appealing for anyone with photographic evidence of the native species in the area to get in touch. It comes after two reported sightings of the animals in woodland just south of Coxbank, near Audlem, last week.

The sightings were reported in a wooded area close to the Shropshire Union Canal.

Experts today said if the sightings could be proven it would be "exceptional" news because red squirrels have been virtually wiped out in most of England by the grey squirrel.