TWO new furry faces have arrived at Walton Hall and Gardens children's zoo.

Rangers were thrilled to announce the birth of two red squirrels, bringing the total number bred at the zoo to 38.

The new squirrels' mother was bred at Wildwood in Kent and moved to Walton last year.

It is her first time as a mum and rangers admit she is very protective of her kittens, even 'warning them off' if they get too close.

The young pair are now 10 weeks old and will remain at Walton Gardens until they reach 13 weeks, when they will have to be separated from their parents.

In the wild they would be 'chased out' of their parents' home territory to start their adult lives.

The zoo's red squirrel breeding programme was set up in spring 2006, with the help of funding from WREN and FCC Environment.

The rangers keep some of the squirrels and match-make them with others already on site.

Others will move to new homes, either at other captive breeding programmes, or be released back into the wild.

So far five of the zoo's furry friends have been released into the red squirrel conservation area on Anglesey, Wales.