Puffins are stars of Farne Islands livestream show

ALMOST 300,000 people have streamed live webcams of seabirds on Northumberland's Farne Islands since their launch in May.

- DANIEL HALL

Two cameras went live on Inner Farne as part of celebrations of the National Trust's 100-year ownership of the islands.

The most popular has been the “puffin cam” trained on the burrows of the small charismatic seabirds, while a clifftop camera has allowed virtual visitors to get acquainted with razorbills, guillemots, shags and a lone gannet named Stevie.

The installation of the cameras was partly intended to inspire people to visit the islands.

Andrew Poad, general manager for the National Trust Northumberland Coast, said: “The popularity of the livestream cameras highlights the growing public interest in the islands’ natural wonders and the importance of making the experiences and stories from this fascinating place accessible to all.

“We hope by seeing the birds, more people will be inspired to visit in person one day, but also to understand how vital it is to protect these wild isles for generations to come.”