A SHOP in the Lake District had an unexpected visitor this week when a red squirrel decided to take a look at its toy section. 

On Monday July 1, the squirrel came through the front door of Barneys News Box in Grasmere. 

Owner Amanda Jayne Perrem said: "We've been in the shop for 40 years and never had this happen before." 

Amanda said that the squirrel was lovely but 'a little bit scary' as it made its way down to the toy section. 

The cute critter paid a visit to the toy sectionThe cute critter paid a visit to the toy section (Image: Submitted)

"We got a lovely picture of it down the bottom of the toy section. Then it ran over my uncle's foot and went back out the front door." 

Despite deadly squirrel pox being detected in the Lake District towards the end of last year, Cumbria Wildlife Trust said that reds had been spotted 'all around' Loughrigg recently. 

The Lakes is one of the few places in England where the country's indigenous squirrel survives. The invasive grey squirrel and disease have devastated red populations over the last 150 years.