A GROUP working to protect red squirrels is launching a new project to bring them back to parts of the North-East.

Northeast Red Squirrels (NeRS) has been given £59,900 from the National Lottery for its project to bring the endangered animal back to parts of the Tyne.

The project focuses on surveying, stabilising and then expanding the range of red squirrel populations that are found to the east and west of the city of Newcastle.

Sally Hardy, trustee and NeRS chair, said: “We are delighted that with the help from the Heritage Lottery Fund we will be able to deliver our project over the next two years.

“This will build on our current success and hopefully increase the expansion of our red squirrels and allow them to return to areas where they have disappeared along the Tyne west of Newcastle.”

A team of rangers and volunteers will be working closely with landowners and communities to make woodlands in the project area a safe haven for red squirrels.