I'M READY FOR MY CLOSE UP NOW, MR NUTKIN

Red squirrels are well known for their intelligence and curiosity but when one snapper caught this furry little guy trying to take his own self-portrait he couldn't help but be taken aback. Professional wildlife photographer Simon Philpotts had only turned his back for a moment during a session spent snapping a new colony of red squirrels near his home in Wensleydale, North Yorks. But as he headed into a nearby hide to set up some equipment, he spotted one furry-tailed photographer commandeering his camera. After climbing up the tripod and sniffing about the rig, Simon captured the sneaky scamp seemingly attempting to take a picture of himself - placing his foot on the shutter release and sticking his nose into the lens. Simon, 38, said: "We are getting a lot of squirrels at the moment and they are very curious. This little one decided to climb up my tripod and basically try and take my camera apart. At one point it looked like he was trying to take a self portrait.

Other great stories
INTIMATE PORTRAITS OF HINDU HOLY MEN

COVERING themselves in ash and face paint, these are the holy men who live their lives away from everyday society .

GREAT-GRANDMA SPLASHES £48K ON FAKE BABY COLLECTION

A retired foster carer has spent a whopping £48k on her brood of lifelike dolls .

ADORABLE ORANGUTAN TURNS ONE

An adorable orangutan named Pongo celebrates his first birthday at Zoo Atlanta, Georgia, America .

UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP

A brave cricket takes his chances as he sits on top of this green papua tree frog .

IT'S BEHIND YOU: PHOTOGRAPHER IN WALES IGNORES GIANT WAVES

Southern England, the south-west and west Wales have been warned to expect more wild weather, with heavy rain and high tides possibly leading to coastal flooding and travel disruption over the weekend .

THE UNDERWATER WONDERLAND

SEA LIFE and greenery in one shot show nature at its very best .

WORLD'S FIRST SIGN LANGUAGE RESTAURANT

A world's first restaurant has opened in Canada, where having your order fall on deaf ears is a good thing .

BOY AGE 5 IS MIDWIFE TO BROTHER, THEN SAVES HIS LIFE

A little boy aged FIVE bravely delivered his newborn brother - then promptly saved his life .

I GAVE UP MY LADETTE LIFESTYLE – AND LOST OVER 6ST

A reformed boozer, who spent nine months partying in Magaluf, has shed over 6 stone after ditching her ladette lifestyle to become a fitness fanatic .

19ST WOMAN LOSES 9ST AFTER GIVING UP GREGGS ADDICTION

A woman who was addicted to GREGGS has lost 9st after giving up her favourite food .

BROTHER SEXUALLY ABUSED ME AGED 6 AND TOLD ME HE'D GET CANCER IF I DIDN'T LET HIM

Sophie Carr, 23, from Swindon, was just six when her older brother Alex, then 12, abused her during a game of mummies and daddies .

AUSTRALIAN TOWN LOCATED UNDERGROUND

A mining town in Australia’s outback appears to be completely deserted, but its residents have escaped the scorching heat by living in underground caves .