RED ALERT

Fears for native population after virus claims first victim

- GEORGE MAIR

A DISEASE that kills red squirrels has been detected north of the Central Belt for the first time.

Scientists revealed a mammal was killed by sqirrelpox on the outskirts of Dunfermline an area previously unaffected by the virus.

The disease is carried by grey squirrels, which are not affected by it but it can be lethal when passed on to the native red squirrel.

The first outbreak was in Lockerbie in 2007 and has been reported in parts of south Scotland.

This is the first case north of the Central Belt.