More proof that perhaps we are not nuts after all. Since we published pictures of white squirrels in Kent more readers have reported spotting the supposedly rare woodland resident.

They have been spotted in The Vines garden in Rochester, in Hamstreet Woods near Ashford and at Heathfield on the Kent and Sussex border.

Head of conservation of Kent Wildlife Trust Richard Moyse explains the white squirrels are part of the grey squirrel family but have a genetic mutation. Their population rise could be due to our mild winter.

He said: “It’s quite interesting but albinism does exist in any animal. There are white blackbirds and white badgers.

"The population of grey squirrels may be high, which could explain why we are seeing a bigger proportion of albinos and because we have experienced a milder winter.”

He added that grey squirrels can also very rarely be pale or white in colour without being albino. However, the giveaway is the eyes: albinos have no skin, hair or eye pigment, so that the eyes appear pink.

For more information on Albino birds