Warning issued after apparent spate of 'squirrel attacks'

People are being warned not to feed the squirrels they comes across in local parks and woodlands after a spate of apparent attacks and squirrel bites in Dorset.

The Nothe Gardens in Weymouth have seen a number of incidents of squirrels apprently "ganging up" on passers-by and even chasing people along the path - according to local reports.

Several people say they have been bitten after sitting down on a park bench.

One man has told how a squirrel sank its teeth into his finger.

Another woman described how she and a friend were confronted by a "gang" of the animals.

Another victim said the squirrels chased her when she wasn't even attempting to feed them.

"It started as one but they seemed to form a gang. I tried to shoo them away but they wouldn’t go. I tried walking away but the faster I walked the faster they came at me."

Public reminder not to feed the squirrels

Briony Baxter, a community officer for Dorset Wildlife Trust, urged people not to feed squirrels.

She said: "If a squirrel is startled or gets over excited about the food you are holding out it is quite natural that it will bite."