A FAMILY of one of the UK’s rarest animals is dining out at a Scottish tourist attraction.

Four pine martens have made themselves at home at Scottish Power’s Cruachan power station at Loch Awe, near Oban, attracted by snacks from the facility’s cafe.

Shona Mcleman, who works at the cafe, said the adults appear daily to find food for the babies, before returning to feed themselves.

Meanwhile, diners have been warned to be on their guard. Mcleman said: “It’s not unheard of for them to sneak up and pinch food from their plates if they’re not keeping a close eye on their lunch.

“It all started because we caught them breaking into the bins to make off with the leftover jam portions, so we started leaving them out food instead. They got so gallus they were pilfering seeds from the bird table and we’ve had to put a sign up warning visitors not to leave their food unattended.

“We make sure there’s fruit and nuts on offer for them but cakes – or anything with jam – is what they come for most. They’re wee gannets.”

Mammal specialist Robert Raynor of Scottish Natural Heritage, said: “Pine martens have made an amazing recovery in Scotland. They were once found throughout the UK, but suffered one of the most dramatic declines of any UK mammal.

“In the last half of the 20th century, pine marten populations have recovered in Scotland and are now found in most mainland areas north of the Central Belt and a few parts of southern Scotland. But the species is still rare in the UK.”