Squirrel meat served at Edinburgh restaurant

The owner of an Edinburgh restaurant which has put grey squirrel on the menu has described it as the "ultimate ethical food".

Spoon cafe bistro in the capital said the grey squirrels were being killed to protect Scotland's native red squirrel so it "made sense" to eat them.

But animal welfare charities are divided about eating squirrel.

Owner Richard Alexander said the squirrel meat was free range, low fat and low on air miles.

Mr Alexander said since it went on the menu on Friday it has sold out every day.

But animal welfare charity, OneKind has raised concerns this could encourage the mistreatment of wild animals.

Meanwhile, the Scottish SPCA said it has no objections to eating grey squirrels so long as they are caught and killed humanely.