Grey squirrel hunter follows UK pie demand south

A pest controller on a mission to rid the UK of grey squirrels is moving south - to feed the demand for squirrel pie.

Paul Parker, 45, has helped catch and kill more than 22,000 grey squirrels in the past 18 months.

The father of three is a founder of conservation group the Red Squirrel Protection Partnership (RSPP), which says trapping and shooting is the only way to save the native reds from extinction.



His method has been so successful grey squirrels have been eradicated in many parts of Northumberland, and the reds have returned.

The Defra-funded group relies on an army of volunteers - many of them pensioners - to help spot and trap the squirrels. They have caught 22,622 greys so far.

Parker, from Newcastle, said: "We are hoping to move down south. We have asked landowners down there if they need any help to get rid of the greys, to educate them as to our methods and how we catch them, using spring loaded box traps and catch live traps."