NEW arrivals at Walton Hall's Children's Zoo are melting hearts as they make their first public appearance.

There have been six red squirrel kittens born so far this year thanks to Walton's captive breeding project.

To date, more than 40 kittens have been born at the zoo, five of which have been released into the wild on the Isle of Anglesey and the remainder have moved to start their own families at Knowsley Safari Park, British Wildlife Centre and the Welsh Mountain Zoo.

Peter Cookson-Dean, Walton zoo ranger, said: "It’s fantastic that six kittens have been born at Walton this year as a result of our successful breeding programme.

"Squirrels can produce up to two litters each year, usually consisting of three or four kittens so to have six arrive is a little out of the ordinary.

"The young are looked after by the mother and are born helpless, blind and deaf.

"Their eyes and ears open after three to four weeks, and they develop all their teeth by 42 days."

Red squirrels thrived in this country until the 20th century when grey squirrels were brought over from North America and became the founders of today’s huge grey squirrel population.

Grey squirrels are now so successful that red squirrels are nearly extinct in England and Wales.