The annual Big Garden Birdwatch in the South West is being officially launched in Cornwall on Tuesday.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is starting the 2003 project at the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

The event, taking place this weekend, asks members of the public to help the RSPB find the most commonly seen garden birds.

Last year, an estimated 8,000 people from the South West took part in the survey.

The RSPB is organising the garden birds survey

The RSPB hope this year's event will be bigger and better than ever.

They say members of the public do not have to be an expert to take part.

They are asking people to spend one hour, on either Saturday or Sunday, counting the birds in their garden or local park.

The aim is to record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time.

The RSPB says the morning is the best time to look when the birds are feeding after a cold winter night.