They are among the nation’s favourite animals. But hedgehogs, it seems, are not welcome everywhere.

For conservationists are launching a multimillion-pound plan to eradicate every single one of the creatures from a group of Scottish islands.

Teams of hunters and a huge network of traps are soon set to be deployed in an ambitious bid to capture thousands of hedgehogs on Uist.

The animals are not native to the Hebrides and are considered a threat to the islands’ internationally important birdlife – because they feast on eggs.

Under the plan, up to 100 hedgehogs a week could soon find themselves being trapped while out foraging for food.

Once the creatures have been checked over in a special ‘rehabilitation facility’ on the isles, they will be shipped off to new homes on the Scottish mainland.