Warning British hedgehogs could die out after struggling through extra hot summer

The humble hedgehog - a British favourite, but for how much longer?

The species is in a rapid and sad decline - its numbers have fallen in the UK from around 30million in the 1950s to less than a million in the now. Urbanisation has, in part, led to the species' decline. Other factors including pesticides, increasing road traffic and warmer summer weather have also contributed.

Survival expert Ray Mears told Good Morning Britain that people need to "cherish" hedgehogs and to ensure that they provide a habitat for them.

He went on to add that hedgehogs are in decline because people are keeping their gardens too tidy - causing their habitat to shrink.

Enclosed gardens with high fences keep hedgehogs from roaming around - experts say they need to roam around one mile a night to stay healthy. Leaving a small gap at the bottom of your garden fence can help hedgehogs move from garden to garden, filming food and homes as they go.

The warmer weather struck right in the middle of their breeding season - with less water around to be able to give to their young to grow; mothers abandoned their young, leaving them to sadly die. It means their numbers are further depleted.

The People's Trust for Endangered Species has previously warned that if action is not taken to help hedgehogs in the UK, they could die out altogether.

How you can help a hedgehog

If you want to do your bit to help out our spiny friends, here are some simple and easy to follow tips.

What to feed them: - Hedgehogs' normal diet consists of slugs, beetles, caterpillars and worms. But when the weather cools in the winter months, these species become harder to find. Leaving out meat-based wet cat or dog food, cat biscuits or specially made hedgehog food may provide a tasty snack.- Do not leave out milk. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, giving them milk makes them sick and can lead to death. Leaving out a shallow dish of water is the perfect way to help hedgehogs rehydrate.

Giving them a home: - As autumn arrives and the leaves fall off the trees, leaving a pile of leaves in your garden can give hedgehogs a place to snooze away the cooler months.- 'Hedgehog homes' are on the market - these have small compartments that protect hedgehogs from predators such as badgers, foxes and dogs.