The British government is expecting public opposition to its plans to use trapping, poisoning and shooting to create buffer zones around areas where the indigenous red squirrels survive.

It is estimated that there are now two million grey squirrels in Britain, and they are being made a target because of the damage they cause to woodland.

The grey squirrels, which were introduced in the 19th century from America, have driven out the red squirrel from south-east England, with colonies of red squirrels now limited to a few areas of woodland in special reserves.

Grey squirrels cause widespread damage to trees by stripping bark, and are believed to be responsible for the decline in the red squirrel population.

There have been calls for the complete eradication of the grey squirrel, but environment ministers have rejected such a radical option.

They will argue that they have become accepted as part of Britain's wildlife, with the grey squirrels giving many city dwellers a taste of the countryside.