SHOPPERS in Lancaster are to be urged to take up bird-watching this weekend.

Staff and volunteers from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds will be out in force at St Nicholas' Arcade on Saturday to ask people to take part in its 26th annual garden watch a huge bird survey.

It aims to find out which birds are the most common visitors to local gardens in winter and also keeps an eye on how others are faring.

Garden bird advisor Kirsten Whittaker says: "The birdwatch takes place every year during the last weekend of January and aims to find the most commonly seen garden birds.

"You don't have to be an expert to take part and it's a fun event designed for all the family which also provides valuable information and gives a snapshot of winter bird populations."

RSPB volunteers will be dishing out information in the shopping centre from 10am to 4pm. Or, to find out more about the event, log onto www.rspb.org. uk/birdwatch.