HAMPSHIRE’S hungry hedgehogs need help finding food and water as they come out of hibernation.

The garden creatures have declined by a third in the last ten years in the UK because more people are opting for decking and fences rather than leafy gardens and hedges, making it more difficult for them to find food and shelter. Now the RSPB is calling for garden owners to help fatten them up in time for the breeding season.

They are urging people to leave water and food, including the charity’s Cranberry Crunch hedgehog food, and small amounts of cake, biscuits, pastry, fresh and dried fruits and cooked vegetables outside for prickly garden visitors.

The charity is also urging people to avoid using chemicals in their gardens and to use non-toxic preservation brands on wooden furniture, as hedgehogs often lick surfaces that smell new.

For more information visit rspb.org.uk.