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Rare pure white squirrel spotted in woods

00:00, 27 October 2016

updated: 09:15, 27 October 2016

A rare white squirrel was spotted in woodland during a family bike ride.

It was seen in Swingfield, a small village between Densole and Lydden when father, Rupert Maddison-Roberts and his 11-year-old Sasha.

It first made an appearance on Tuesday and when revisiting the site again yesterday the pair managed to capture it on camera.

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Spot the albino squirrel... Picture: Rupert Maddison-Roberts
Spot the albino squirrel... Picture: Rupert Maddison-Roberts

Mr Maddison-Roberts said: "Before I could get the phone out it ran up a tree so we returned and there it was again, this time we got some shots and video, although we were some distance away."

VIDEO: A white squirrel's also been spotted in Whitstable.

The pure white rodent is thought to be one of a handful in the UK.

It is not clear whether it has black or red eyes - the red eyes are usually consistent with albino squirrels and signal the fact that they have sight problems.

It is thought that pure white squirrels are those born with the leucism gene, which is caused by genetic mutation causing absence of pigment cells.

Have you seen this white squirrel? Or have you spotted one elsewhere in Kent? Email vchessum@thekmgroup.co.uk.

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