The traditional red-breasted robin is a familiar festive favourite but a very unusual variant has been sighted in east Dorset.

Wildlife photographer Colin Varndell got a call from an amateur birdwatcher who was intrigued by the strange bird in his garden.

The robin has a totally white breast due to a rare condition which means that its red pigment is missing.

Tony Whitehead from the RSPB said: "This bird is part albino. From the back it looks normal but front on you can see the white goes right under its breast," the Daily Mail reports.

"It is a very rare thing. I have been bird-watching for 30 years and I have never seen one of these before."

Robins normally look for a mate at Christmas-time and experts are hoping that the white-breast will be able to produce offspring with a more conventional partner.

For seasonal gardening tips, go to Gardening Calendar.