STARS of the small screen are calling on people across North Yorkshire to support the RSPB, and get counting sparrows as part of a survey looking at the species' dramatic decline.

Numbers of house sparrows have more than halved in the last 25 years and the RSPB hopes the survey will ultimately help reverse the trend and boost the future of the cheeky little "Cockney sparrer".

Stars of Yorkshire-based soap Emmerdale are joined by broadcasters Philippa Forrester and Chris Packham in backing the survey, urging people to join in and count the number of sparrows in their gardens between Saturday and May 11.

Emma Atkins, who plays Emmerdale's Charity Tate, said: "To hear the house sparrow is in such serious decline is very worrying. It's such a familiar bird and it's fantastic the RSPB is acting now to try and find out why they're disappearing. Everyone should get behind it."

House sparrow numbers fell by a staggering 64 per cent between 1972 and 1996 with an estimated loss of 9.6 million birds - a figure equivalent to the human population of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. During the past year much has been said about their plight and a number of theories, including lack of food and lack of nest sites have been put forward, but there's still no obvious explanation for the recent decline.

David Hirst, spokesman for the RSPB in North Yorkshire, said: "We need to know where house sparrows are doing well and where they are doing badly. You don't have to be an expert to take part. On any day between Saturday and May 11, we would like you to tell us about your local house sparrows by answering a few simple questions."

You can send in your results by visiting the RSPB website www.rspb.org.uk/sparrowatch or you can get a house sparrow pack by phoning the RSPB's hotline number 0870 601 0215, before Tuesday or by writing to: RSPB, Sparrowatch 2003, Freepost ANG10850, 17 Birkheads Road, Reigate RH2 9SP, Surrey.

Updated: 10:57 Thursday, May 01, 2003