THE first picture has emerged of the ultra-rare white squirrel which has made the trees along Pitchcroft its home.

Kathy Shaw came across the incredibly rare creature as she walked to Croft car park along Croft Road on Thursday afternoon and managed to quickly get a picture before it scampered off.

The 57-year-old from Lower Broadheath said she could not believe her eyes when she realised she was looking at an all-white squirrel - thought to be one of just 50 in the country.

She said: "I was walking from work over Sabrina Bridge towards the car park when I saw something white out of the corner of my eye.

"I thought it was just a bit of rubbish or something in the trees but then it suddenly moved.

"I thought "Oh! What an earth is that?" and I looked down and spotted it was was a white squirrel.

"It was just sat there eating a nut.

"I couldn't believe it."

Worcester News reader Vicky Burton spotted the squirrel on Tuesday, October 7 but the crafty creature managed to scamper away before she could take a picture.

Luckily, Mrs Shaw, who works at Market Link in St George's Square, quickly got out her camera phone and managed to get a snap.

"It's quite small so luckily I got my camera and took a quick picture before it ran away.

"Lots of people were wandering by but no one else seemed to spot it.

"I was quite excited and watched it for about three or four minutes.

"It's so sweet, really, really cute.

"I think it is only young though because it is so small.

"When I got to the car I told my husband about it and he said he had seen an article in the Worcester News about it.

"It was amazing to see it. We have lots of squirrels in our garden at home but I've never seen an all-white one before - it was pretty special."

Conservation officer at Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Steven Bloomfield said it was likely to be the first albino squirrel spotted in the county.

"We don't have any records of any being spotted around here before but given how rare they are that is not surprising."

He added anyone who had seen the squirrel could let the trust know on 01905 754 919 or the Worcester Biological Records Centre - which collects data on plant and animal wildlife across the county - on 01905 759 759.