These pictures are believed to be the first evidence of a new phenomenon - of squirrels using plastic bags to build a nest.

The rodent is seen on its hind legs seemingly struggling under the bulk of the bags it is carrying in its two fore limbs.

It can barely see where it is going through the plastic scraps it is carrying - before transferring them into its jaws and scurrying off.

The pictures are believed to be the first photographic evidence of this "odd" behavioural change in squirrels.

In 2018, scientists said they had discovered they are now using plastic waste to build their nests.

This squirrel was spotted by photographer Henry Jacobs, 73, as he enjoyed a walk along the Lee Valley Navigational Canal, in the London Borough of Haringey.

Tottenham Independent:

The squirrel appears to be struggling to carry the plastic scraps. Photo: Henry Jacobs

Henry said: "When I first saw it, I didn't know what I was looking at.

"I knew it was an animal, but I genuinely couldn't work out what animal it was for the first few seconds.

"It was a very unusual sight. I thought, what is it doing with that? Why would it want plastic? It looked very odd.

"I didn't even know about squirrel nests until I looked it up later that day - and then I found out that they use what is available to them."

Henry added that it was a "real shame" that the squirrel had had to pick up litter from along the river path.

He said: "The people who look after the towpath do a pretty good job in making it look really nice.

"It's a real shame that people want to spoil the environment by throwing rubbish about.

Tottenham Independent:

Photo: Henry Jacobs

"Why people can't just take their rubbish home and put it in the bin, I don't understand. I just think it's such a shame."

The behavioural change of squirrels collecting plastic waste to build their nests was first spotted by an Indian scientist in 2018 - but has seemingly never before been caught on camera.

Dr. Mewa Singh, of the Bio-psychology Laboratory at the University of Mysore, in Karnataka, south India, published his research findings in March 2018, after observing the behaviour in Indian palm squirrels.

His research observed the squirrels using plastic bags, plastic threads and cigar butts as nesting materials in urban areas, instead of leaves, twigs, shredded bark, mosses and other soft materials.

Researchers saw the squirrels collect a long plastic sheet from a small dump yard, carefully check it and tear it into the appropriate size and shape.

Two more nests were also found at the same location, built using similar plastic material.

And at another site, also located near a dump area, it was discovered that only one of the four nests on the tree was built completely with natural materials.

Dr. Singh's research study explained: "The proportion of anthropogenic (artificial) material used in nest building is directly related to the extent of urbanization.

"Although Indian palm squirrels usually build nests using natural materials, these squirrels appear to be adapting themselves to changes in habitat by using plastic material to survive.

"The use of plastic for nest building by the palm squirrel is a typical example of the struggle for existence in altered habitats."