CALLS for a mass killing of grey squirrels have been met with threats of public protest by animal rights activists who have branded the idea barbaric.

The animals are facing a possible death sentence after Amersham Town Council called for action to combat increasing damage to trees on its land.

But animal lovers have condemned any move to cull the bushy-tailed rodents as unnecessary and cruel.

Dawn Parkes, founder of South Bucks Justice for Animals, said: "Squirrels are not pests. I cannot see any reason why they should want to take such drastic action. For God's sake leave them alone."

Grey squirrels in wooded areas around Amersham could be trapped, poisoned or even shot during the coming months in a last ditch attempt to control the town's squirrel population.

Council estate staff have noticed a large number of the animals in Willow Wood, Parsonage Wood, Hervines Park and Stanley Hill Cemetery in Amersham. They argue the pests are stripping the bark off trees, thus putting the long-term future of the woodland under threat.

Amersham's Town Mayor, Cllr Josie Ricketts, is backing a cull.

She said: "I think it's necessary if they are going to do damage everywhere. I don't like killing animals, I hate anything like that, but what can you do? I would think shooting would be the easiest thing."

Amersham Town Council is now seeking advice from conservation groups, including the Woodland Trust, to come up with the best course of action.

The optimum period for a cull is mid-March to mid-August, the time when the most damage to trees is expected.

But animal lover Val Miller, of Flackwell Heath, who owns a tame squirrel, is worried because this season is also a time when there are more baby squirrels around.

She said: "These people seem to do it at a time when animals have their young so there are babies around.

"I just think it's barbaric."

Two years ago, South Bucks Justice for Animals and other groups managed to block moves by Marlow Town Council for a similar cull after a series of protests. Estelle Vincent, a spokesman for the RSPCA, said she did not know how effective a cull would be.

She added: "For each squirrel they kill another one could move in to take its place they are territorial animals."