Work on a Medway housing development has been halted – not by the credit crunch, but by a colony of slowworms.

Builders should have started the 16 one and two-bedroom apartments in Eastcourt Lane, Twydall, in August.

But the discovery of the slowworms means the work has been put on hold until they can be found a new home.

The apartments are being built by mhs commercial, part of the mhs homes group .

The snake-like slowworms are a type of harmless lizard, which often lives in gardens and on derelict ground.

After a large decline in their numbers, they have been a protected species since 1981.

Kevin Martyn, business development manager for mhs commercial said: “The new apartments are designed to highest levels of sustainability and efficiency to protect our environment for years to come but it’s also only right we take action now to protect the environment for this endangered species, too.

“This is the first time we have encountered slowworms on our development sites and we will be working closely with the authorities to ensure they can be safely relocated.”

“Work on the properties is due to recommence in May 2009, with an anticipated completion date of early spring, 2010.

Dr Lee Brady, from Calumma Ecological Services, added: “When slowworms are found on proposed development sites, their welfare must be taken into consideration. They are completely harmless and useful to gardeners because they feed on slugs and snails.

“Their hibernation during the winter months means they can only be captured and moved to an alternative site in the spring.”