Sir David Attenborough condemns BBC plans to cut jobs at world famous Natural History Unit

Sir David Attenborough has criticised the BBC's decision to cut nearly a third of jobs in its Natural History Unit.

The renowned division, home to Planet Earth, the Blue Planet and Springwatch, has fallen foul of corporation-wide budget cuts.

Despite its formidable reputation, 57 out of 180 staff posts are set to be axed from the Bristol-based unit.

It's annual £37million budget with be slashed by £12million this year.

The 81-year-old naturalist - who has presented many of the unit's most famous programmes - said the job losses would affect the BBC's ability to continue it's high level of nature production.

Sir David said in an interview with Radio Times: "With cuts of that size, you simply can't continue the same level of output, or if you do, you're going to replace it with something very skimpy."

He made the comments days before his new series, Life in Cold Blood, about the world of reptiles and amphibians, is broadcast on BBC1.

The programmes mark the final chapter in Sir David's epic 'Life' strand which began in 1979 with Life On Earth.

Footage is shot in high definition and each episode cost around £800,000.

Exclusive first-sightings include the Panamanian golden frog waving and a rattlesnake hunting in the wild, and even footage of a snake jumping.

In one episode the caecilian, a worm-like amphibian, is seen allowing her young to feast on her skin.

Planet Earth, which Sir David narrated in 2006, was a huge commercial success for the BBC, with sales worldwide.

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The BBC has been warned by independent producers of wildlife shows that the cuts would have "reverberations way beyond the BBC" because the Natural History Unit was a leader in its field.

Sir David also told the magazine that he had a standard reply for people who ask why he shows pictures of hummingbirds and other beautiful creatures without mentioning God.

He said he questions why people always cite hummingbirds, butterflies or roses when they ask the question.

Sir David said: "I tend to think of an innocent little child sitting on the bank of a river in Africa, who's got a worm boring through his eye that can render him blind before he's eight.

"Now, presumably you think this Lord created this worm, just as he created the hummingbird. I find that rather tricky."

A BBC spokeswoman defended the cuts, saying: "The big landmark pieces and events such as Springwatch are continuing on the BBC and quality will in no way be compromised."