The Exmoor Squirrel Project has called for grey squirrels that are culled to be served up on menus to minimise waste.

Kerry Hosegood, the group's wildlife and woodland officer said: "We don't want any animals to be wasted. I eat squirrel, there's nothing wrong with it, it's like any other game animal like pheasant or rabbit."

"There are a lot of restaurants across the country who have squirrel on the menu."

Ms Hosegood explained that because they are classified as vermin, squirrels cannot be rehabilitated once they have been trapped.

"People aren't understanding squirrel are classified as vermin. It is illegal to rehabilitate a squirrel. They are a non-native invasive alien species that have decimated our woodland."

Ms Hosegood ambition is to "dramatically reduce the grey squirrel population" to make way for the reintroduction of red squirrels. The grey population has taken over swathes of the country from red squirrels, in large part because they carry a disease called squirrel pox, to which they are immune.

The Exmoor Squirrel Project is one of many groups across the country working to reduce the grey squirrel population, who they say cause damage to wildlife, including killing songbirds and destroying trees.

Ms Hosegood recommended grey squirrels be slow cooked and said they "taste like rabbit."

The Free Press spoke with local eateries to see if would consider serving grey squirrel on the menu.

Guy Dewdney, owner of Bossington Hall on Exmoor said: "We are working with the local rewilding project, but we have no plans to put squirrels on the menu as of yet."

The Royal Oak in Exmoor said: "If a customer wants squirrel, they can have squirrel, but I'll wait and see what the customer wants."

More information about the Exmoor Squirrel Project can be found at their website here.