A TINY creature not much bigger than the palm of your hand could be responsible for delaying a road safety project costing several million pounds.

The Great Crested Newt is a rare and protected species, which can only be found in a few places around Britain. And one of those locations is on the Hoo Peninsula, near the dangerous A228.

The road has claimed more than 25 lives in less than 20 years and preparation work for a bypass between Hoo and Chattenden begun this week. But before full construction work can get under way, the area must be scoured for the tiny amphibians.

A Medway Council spokesman said: “Wildlife experts will have to look for Great Crested Newts in the area.

“To do that, they have to get a licence and put up newt fences and go out in the night to collect them. The newts will be taken to a nearby pond.”

News of yet more delays disappointed road safety campaigner Val Wells. But she said she felt certain the newts would not cause too much of a problem and vowed to help move them herself if necessary.

She said: “I am sure it won’t take long to catch a few small newts. But if I have to go down there and catch them myself with a fishing net, I will.”

The Great Crested Newt is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and also the EU Habitats and Species Directive and the Bern Convention. Loss of habitat has caused their numbers to plummet and it is strictly forbidden to capture or kill them.