Race to find vaccine for red squirrels

SCIENTISTS in Edinburgh have said they are in a race against time to develop a vaccine to protect the country's red squirrels.

The animals are at growing risk from squirrel pox, a deadly virus carried by grey squirrels.

Dr Colin Macinnes, who is leading the research at the Moredun Institute in the Capital, said: "Although the virus is only present in the south-west, it could put red squirrels in other parts of the country at risk."