A British supermarket has started selling squirrel, and is reporting "huge interest" in the cheap and healthy meat.

Grey squirrel meat is high in protein and low in fat, and is selling for just £3 ($5.25) at budget supermarket Budgens, the Daily Mail reports.

Once a staple of English cooking, squirrel is said to have a nutty flavour and can be cooked in soups, pies and casseroles.

The North London branch of the supermarket selling the meat said there had been "huge interest", but admitted more customers were looking rather than buying so far.

"Squirrels are in plentiful supply and feed on nature," store owner Andrew Thornton said.

"Given the damage they do to farms, many are culled anyway, so surely it's better to eat them than dispose of them.

"It many ways, it is no different to rabbit, an established meat eaten in this country.

"It has been well-received and we have a number of regulars who keep returning for more."

But animal welfare group Viva has accused Budgens of cashing in on a "massacre" by putting grey squirrel back on the menu.

"If this store is attempting to stand out from the crowd by selling squirrel, the only message they are giving out is that they are happy to have the blood of a beautiful wild animal on their hands for the sake of a few quid," said Viva founder and zoologist Juliet Gellatley.