Experts hope puffins can thrive on Lundy Island again

It is thought the rodents arrived on the island off north Devon about 200 years ago from wrecked ships.

Since then they have terrorised the puffin population.

However a controversial cull appears to have succeeded and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) says four puffin burrows are now occupied.

The scheme is a joint partnership with English Nature, english Heritage and the Landmark Trust which actually owns Lundy Island.

Peter Exley from the RSPB said: "Hopefully by the end of next winter we're going to be able to officially declare the island rat free.

The puffins are the icon - that's what brings people to the island Peter Exley, RSPB

"The puffins are long lived birds - it takes four or five years for them to reach breeding age.

"It'll probably be a decade or more before we see a significant increase in puffins and other birds."

The society is also very excited about the sighting of a manx shearwater whose only other British nest is on the Isles of Scilly.