A CUMBRIAN MP has voiced concerns about grey squirrels. 

In a recent visit to the House of Commons Copeland MP Trudy Harrison raised issues about grey squirrels in the country. 

Grey squirrels are an invasive species in England and have negative implications for the country's red squirrel population. 

A spokesperson said: "Last week I spoke up about the problems with grey squirrels, in particular, the vast and visible damage to trees and risk to red squirrels. 

"For many, a grey squirrel is a cute and perhaps rare sight of nature. But in Cumbria, where we’re hanging on to our native red squirrel populations they pose the greatest threat by carrying, but not suffering from, squirrel pox virus - which is fatal to reds.

"Defra have a multi-pronged approach to tackling the impacts and quite right too.

"I paid tribute to the volunteers who give up so much of their time and own money to keep red squirrels protected.

"The numbers are stark from half a million when I was born in 1976 to well below 40,000 today and predicted extinction by 2042.

"Please do support your local volunteer Red Squirrel conservation groups and report sightings of grey squirrels."