Visitors to the Lake District could soon catch a glimpse of the mythical Gruffalo.

The creature has been brought to life through a special app, allowing walkers in Whinlatter Forest to explore an interactive trail.

The trail, which opens on February 22, includes fun facts about forest animals with a range of activities to take part in along the way.

Families visiting the forest can then use the app to bring 3D animations to life once they have spotted the animals, and take photos alongside them.

They will be automatically added to the device’s gallery and can be shared on social media with the hashtag #GruffaloSpotters.

Families will also be able to follow clues on the interactive trail and track signs of their favourite characters based on The Gruffalo, the best-selling picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

The app was the idea of both the Forestry Commission England and Magic Light Pictures and was developed by Nexus Studios. It is available to download free from the Apple App Store, Google Play and Amazon.

Meanwhile a Gruffalo Spotters kit can also be bought on site and includes animal facts, tips for tracking wildlife, an evidence collection bag, magnifying glass and a pencil to make notes.

Adrian Jones, recreation business manager for north lakes and west cumbria at Forestry Commission England, said: “This is such an exciting development and will deliver a completely different forest experience for our visitors.

“ The Gruffalo is a world renowned story and to be able to bring the characters to life in their natural setting is fantastic. It’s great we’ve had the opportunity to join the two worlds of technology and nature together sensitively.”

Barney Goodland, head of digital at Magic Light Pictures, added: “Our partnership with Forestry Commission England has been an overwhelming success from the start so in this, our fourth year of activity, we wanted to do something really special.

“We’re always looking to further children’s enjoyment of The Gruffalo and this was an innovative way to incorporate new technology with a real world experience.

“Working with the Forestry Commission and Nexus Studios has been a real joy and it’s exciting to now be sharing The Gruffalo Spotter with families. Most importantly for us the app is completely free, which means that it’s there for everyone to enjoy.”