A Scottish Government-backed wildcat protection scheme could be endangering the lives of newborn kittens, a conservation group has warned.

Scottish Wildcat Action (SWA) aims to catch and neuter feral felines in Aberdeenshire to prevent them from breeding with wildcats, which are critically endangered.

Wildcat Haven says the group risks capturing new mothers and harming their young by laying traps during the breeding season.

SWA, which is run by Scottish Natural Heritage, says it avoids trapping in areas where breeding is taking place.

But Wildcat Haven director Emily O'Donoghue said: "It is completely unacceptable to jeopardise one of the last breeding populations of wildcats in this way.

"If a female wildcat is trapped at this time of year there is a very serious and real risk that any dependent kittens will die through lack of maternal care.

"Or a female wildcat would become so stressed by being trapped in a cage for up to 12 hours that she abandons her den site leaving the kittens to starve to death."

SWA said it recently began small-scale trapping in Aberdeenshire after uncovering evidence of "feral cat hotspots".

A spokesman said: "We are fully aware of the kittens in Aberdeenshire and continue to monitor them. We are only targeting feral cats as part of our Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return (TNVR) programme.

"Feral cats live as wild animals so they must be trapped in a cage in order to take them to the qualified vets we are working with.

"These cats are then neutered, vaccinated and released back into the wild."

He added: "TNVR helps protect wildcats from disease and hybridisation - their biggest threats.

"We monitor every target site one to two weeks before setting traps live and continue to monitor them throughout trapping.

"If any nursing mothers or kittens - wildcat or otherwise - are seen on the cameras, trapping does not take place."

SWA, which is supported by 20 partner organisations, in turn raised concerns about an alleged lack of transparency from Wildcat Haven.

The groups were recently involved in a row over whether or not conservationists should be allowed to shoot feral cats.

The SWA accused Wildcat Haven of "deliberately trying to mislead the public".

"Wildcat Haven have provided limited information on their work despite repeated requests," the SWA added.

"We are confident in our robust procedures and we continue to operate with caution in a transparent and professional manner. We would urge Wildcat Haven to do likewise."