Some rare visitors to UK shores are causing a stir among birdwatchers.

Brightly-coloured waxwings have been spotted in parts of Northumberland, Tyneside, County Durham and Teesside.

New housing developments, shopping centres and industrial estates are popular with the visitors as they are often landscaped with berry-bearing bushes - a favourite winter food for waxwings.

David Hurst, from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said they were often found in flocks of 50 or more and were the biggest influx for four or five years.

'Mohican hairstyles'

He said: "They are fantastic, pretty scarce birds, that normally don't come over to this country.

"They normally breed in the forests of Siberia and in wintertime move into Scandinavia.

"This year there has been a big movement of these birds out of the continent and they have all flocked over to the North East of England."

Mr Hurst said the birds were distinctive with their "mohican" crests and brightly coloured wings.

Friendly birds

He added: "They are very distinctive birds. In flight, they look a bit like a starling.

"But they are this lovely pinky, chestnut colour, they have got this amazing black mask through their eyes as well, which makes them look like a highwayman.

"The reason why they are called waxwings is because they have these incredible little blobs of red that look like they have been dipped in sealing wax.

"Because they breed in such remote areas they hardly ever see any people, so when they come over to this country they are amazingly approachable."