A leading conservation charity yesterday appealed for volunteers with a talent for sewing to help save lost puffin chicks.

The National Trust for Scotland is looking for people to make simple bags to help save the birds on St Kilda, the dual world heritage site.

Every year, dozens of pufflings become disorientated by lights from the buildings on the isolated island of Hirta. As a result, they end up inland, instead of out at sea.

Ranger staff, who live on the island throughout the summer, regularly rescue pufflings by placing them in small, cotton drawstrings bags to keep them safe. They then take them to the coast and release them out to sea.

Now property manager Susan Bain is appealing for help from sewing enthusiasts to produce more of the rescue bags.

She said: "St Kilda's seabirds are so important, so we do everything we can to protect their populations.

"Every puffling is precious and we rescue every one we can.

"Our staff take great care to keep any lights to a minimum.

"Despite this, we always seem to find some stray pufflings around the staff housing.

"It is really important that we make the release of these birds as stress-free as possible.

"The bags really seem to work well and we need to replenish our stock for the summer season."

St Kilda is an internationally recognised seabird colony and hosts thousands of breeding puffins from April until August every year.

Those interested in helping can contact Ms Bain on 01463 232034.