Sir David Attenborough has warned Scottish butterflies are facing a critical summer due to a decline in numbers.

Last year was the fourth worst on record for butterflies and Sir David says that is putting common species at risk.

Cold weather has harmed the natural environment with the broadcasting legend heartened by this year's warmer start.

"Worryingly, we are now seeing the fortunes of some of our once common butterflies mirror those of our rarest species and they too are now also suffering significant declines with butterflies declining more rapidly in urban areas than in the countryside," Sir David said.

"In the last decade our butterflies have experienced several poor years and although resilient, they simply cannot sustain repeated losses, especially if the habitats they need in order to rebuild their populations are also under threat."