A row has broken out over the best way to save the endangered Scottish wildcat.

Wildcat Haven says Scottish Natural heritage has given gamekeepers permission to shoot feral cats caught as part of a nationwide conservation project led by Scottish Wildcat Action (SWA).

It argues cats should be neutered rather than shot but SWA said its methods are "legal and legitimate" and has accused the group of hampering efforts to save the wildcat.

SWA partner the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said Wildcat Haven is "deliberately trying to mislead the public".

Chief executive Chris West said: "RZSS and the wider Scottish Wildcat Action partnership of more than 20 conservation bodies have tried repeatedly to work alongside Wildcat Haven over the past few years.

"However, it has become increasingly clear that their first priority is PR rather than protecting the Scottish wildcat.

"It is hugely disappointing to see an organisation which purports to have the best interests of wildcats using these underhand and distorting ploys to further their own agenda."

Experts say there could be fewer than 100 pure-breed Scottish wildcats left and they are under threat from disease and interbreeding with feral domestic cats.

Wildcat Haven, which runs an 800 square mile reserve in the west Highlands, neuters domestic cats it catches.

Former SWA adviser Dr Paul O'Donoghue said its non-lethal methods have proven "incredibly effective".

Dr O'Donoghue, now chief scientific adviser to Wildcat Haven after leaving SWA in 2014, added: "I am deeply saddened to discover the animal welfare compromises that are being made.

"Neutering has proven to be incredibly effective in the Wildcat Haven fieldwork area for humanely managing feral cat populations and Scottish Natural Heritage are fully aware of the results from our work under their licence; hundreds of square miles of safe habitat for wildcats.

"In contrast, we have seen no evidence that the approach taken by the Scottish Wildcat Action Plan to date has reduced the risk posed to wildcats from feral cats in any of its priority areas.

"It is barbaric and entirely unnecessary. This process also carries an inevitable risk to wildcats being shot through misidentification in the trap, and an equally unacceptable risk that someone's pet could be killed in this way.

"We urge Scottish Natural Heritage to place a moratorium on the Scottish Wildcat Action Plan in its current form in order to deal properly with the wide range of concerns we have raised."