A hedgehog preservation group has urged islanders to put out food for the animals during the upcoming spell of dry weather.

Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group is asking people to put cat biscuits, or small bite dog biscuits out each evening, and to put dishes of fresh water around the garden.

The group added that in addition to a number of hedgehogs being taken in to be cared for with strimmer injuries, it had seen an increase in hedgehogs which were emaciated and dehydrated.

It said: “With the prolonged dry spell and higher temperatures set to continue it really is a matter of life or death for our hedgehog population.”