A NINJA red squirrel cuts a dashing figure as the little fella jumps up to ten-feet between treetops in the Yorkshire Dales. England's last wild red squirrels may be hemmed in by their grey cousins - but they're still leaping free in their own woodlands. Springing over SIX-TIMES their 18-inch body length, if we humans were as good at jumping as these lords of the forest we would be able to jump clean over a Ford Transit van. Photographer Simon Phillpotts from Wensleydale, North Yorkshire took the pictures as part of a project celebrating the agile skills of Yorkshire's red squirrel population.
CARRYING a fully grown goat on his back, this five-year-old boy is a child shepherd in the mountains of northern Ethiopia .
What lies beneath this building site? Britain's great hope of winning the pre-WW2 arms race against Nazi Germany .
A cricket perches on an unusual seat after crawling up the snout of a crocodile .
PERCHING on top of a gate, this young barn swallow waits patiently for his mum to return with dinner .
A diver explores the crystal clear waters of the Silfra canyon in southern Iceland, which is the only place on Earth where you can dive or snorkel between two continental plates .
A pair of snarling foxes go paw-to-paw and brawl after unexpectedly crossing paths .
Animal rescue volunteers have told how a cat riddled with cancer was forced to ripped off its own ears after it was abandoned by its owners .
ROLLING across a 65-metre-high viaduct in the Alps, the red carriages of the Bernina Express add a splash of colour to the spectacular snow-covered Swiss surroundings .
BASKING in smug satisfaction, a confident squirrel gives a wink to the camera .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
With luminous colours and alien- like features, these magical mushrooms look like they belong on another planet .