A SPECIAL account available to customers at Furness Building Society has led to £7,000 being raised for Red Squirrels in Cumbria.

Every year a percentage of the money saved in the bank’s ‘Save the Red Squirrel’ charity accounts is given to Cumbria Widlife Trust, in order to help endangered Reds in the region.

Stephen Trotter, chief executive officer of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said that £211,400 had been raised across the past 17 years through the accounts.

“This is a very generous donation which will really help one of our most popular native species,” he said.

“Everyone loves to see red squirrels and you can spot them at some of Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves, such as at Smardale near Kirkby Stephen, where we’ve installed a special feeding station.”

Helen Mason, manager of the Furness Building Society’s Kendal branch, said: “We are delighted to present Cumbria Wildlife Trust with this year’s payment. The trust provides an invaluable service to preserving our local environment.

“Our affinity accounts are a fantastic way for supporters of the trust to raise money simply by keeping their savings in a local building society.

“The more they save the more we pay to help preserve red squirrels and habitats in Cumbria and the north of England!”