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Britain's butterflies are being driven north to higher ground in an attempt to escape rising temperatures blamed on global warming. Research shows they are among many species of wildlife being forced from the increasingly warmer southern areas and conservationists fear there will be disastrous consequences.

Experts from Butterfly Conservation, the largest insect conservation charity in Europe, with scientists from the Universities of York, Leeds and Durham found the temperatures rise was pushing northern butterfly species to the limits of their existence.

Threatened species such as the large heath, which is predicted to decline by almost 80 per cent by the end of the century, have moved, on average, more than 41 metres uphill.

As temperatures rise further, northern species such as mountain ringlet, northern brown argus, Scotch argus and the chequered skipper are expected to decline severely, with up to 70 per cent of populations being wiped out as they disappear from habitats.

"Northern butterflies such as the mountain ringlet will continue to move to higher ground, but once the mountain summits are reached, there's nowhere left to go," Richard Fox, surveys manager with Butterfly Conservation, said.

"These anticipated declines are of enormous concern, and this research highlights the need for a new landscape approach to conservation through the protection and re-creation of wildlife habitats throughout the countryside.

"Butterflies are sensitive indicators of change in our environment and there is little doubt that climate change will have a substantial effect on our wildlife."