Falling birds and dehydrated hedgehogs: heatwave takes its toll on UK wildlife

Animals and insects have been casualties of recent extreme heat, but the true impact will only be known over time, experts say

Animal rescue centres received a glut of calls, birds fell out of the sky and nature reserves burned as British wildlife baked in last week's heatwave.

Conservationists said animals were eerily still as they tried to shelter from the heat. Experts fear that record-breaking temperatures could cause a further collapse in insect numbers, with bumblebees and butterflies among those most affected.