A wildlife charity has been inundated with calls from animal lovers keen to give a new home to Scottish hedgehogs threatened with execution.

The deluge of calls from people in Sussex came after we revealed the plight of the hedgehogs in the Outer Hebrides.

More than 100 people phoned Trevor Weeks, of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue, to offer their gardens as new homes for the animals.

He said: "It has been an amazing response. I can't believe it to be honest.

"We have received more than 100 calls and have got 75 gardens that seem suitable."

The population of 5,000 hedgehogs on the Uist Islands are facing execution in the spring in a bid to save the native bird population.

It is believed the hedgehogs, which were introduced to the islands in the Seventies, are stealing eggs from the nests of ground-nesting birds.

A number of charities have offered to transport the hedgehogs off the island to new homes around the UK.

It means some of the prickly creatures could be flown to Gatwick or Shoreham where they will be picked up by East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and taken to new sites.

Mr Weeks said: "We will keep in mind everyone on our list for future years for local hedgehogs as well as those in Uist.

"The people of Sussex should be proud of themselves for rallying round."

Anyone who would like to get in touch with the charity should email wildlife ambulance@yahoo.co.uk