THE Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) is asking bird lovers in the North-East and North Yorkshire to help them find out more about the region's population of house sparrows, in an attempt to explain why the once thriving species is declining.

David Hirst, of the RSPB's North of England region, said: "It's easy to think house sparrows will always be around, but in most areas of the country these birds are in real trouble.

"Studies over the past 25 years have shown that the house sparrow population has more than halved."

The RSPB survey of house sparrows runs from Saturday, May 3 to Sunday, May 11.

Mr Hirst said: "We need the help of people to help us find out more about house sparrow numbers.

"We need to know where house sparrows are doing well and where they are in trouble. It is also important to know about areas where there are no sparrows at all.

"You don't have to be an expert to take part.

"On any day in the week we are asking as many local people as possible to tell us about their local house sparrows by answering a few simple questions. The more people take part, the better our information will be."

Results can be sent in online via the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/sparrowatch where the information form will be available from May 1 until June 8.

A house sparrow pack is available by phoning the RSPB's house sparrow hotline on 0870 601 0215, before May 6, or by writing to RSPB, Sparrowatch 2003, Freepost ANG10850, 17 Birkheads Road, Reigate, RH2 9SP.