SQUEAKY the grey squirrel has been saved.

The injured animal faced a death sentence when Colchester couple Patricia Faulkner and Dave Armitage, who have cared for him for seven years, decided to move to a smaller house. He couldn’t be set free as he cannot climb trees.

But, it is illegal to keep squirrels without a licence, so when the RSPCA was unable to take him, it looked as if putting him down would be the only option.

Mrs Faulkner and Mr Armitage were distraught, but have now found a home for Squeaky at the Tiggywinkles hedgehog sanctuary in Buckinghamshire, which is licensed to keep squirrels.

Mr Faulkner, of Hazelton Road, said: “Luckily it has all ended happily. I drove him down to Buckinghamshire and he is settling in at his new home.”

Natural England keeps tight controls on grey squirrels, as moving them could affect endangered populations of native red squirrels.