Red squirrels are outnumbered in England by grey squirrels

Members of the Lake District National Park Authority are being asked to approve a seven-point action plan when they meet on 19 March.

The proposals to protect the native red squirrels from being over-run by greys will be backed by nearly �20,000.

The report says the only chance of conserving the red squirrels is to work with other organisations, landowners and conservation groups.

There are now around 2.5 million grey squirrels in Great Britain and only 160,000 reds.

The report to the Authority follows a request by members of the public to do more to protect the red squirrels in the area.

The red squirrel is a Lake District icon, thanks to Beatrix Potter National Park Authority ecologist Phil Taylor

The key strands of the report are to support the creation of four red squirrel refuges by conservation group Red Alert North West.

Another proposal is to offer �5,000 to Red Alert to promote a grey squirrel control awareness scheme.

Other plans are to encourage landowners and parish councils to use grants to protect red squirrels at the expense of greys and work to win more funding.

Authority ecologist Phil Taylor said: "The red squirrel is a Lake District icon, thanks to Beatrix Potter.

"It is a major tourism attraction and represents something that is special to the area.

"Red squirrels are still present throughout the National Park but where grey squirrels are present, red squirrels have declined."