A family of newts are holding up a £7 million building project in Newhaven.

Developers Rokeagle and Bannertown were ready to start work on a commercial site at Eastside Park, until great crested newts, lizards, grass snakes and toads were spotted on the site.

Now Ecological Consultancy is collecting the reptiles and amphibians and finding them new homes before the bulldozers can roll in.

The great crested newt is a protected species, which makes it an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct habitats where it lives or breeds.

Barry Kemp, who runs his own reptile and amphibian conservation company, will be releasing them to a safe habitat nearby.

He said: "Reptiles and amphibians are often found on brownfield sites like this one.

"Most people know about the protection of the great crested newt but all of our native reptiles are protected."

He welcomed moves to create more habitat for them and a wildlife pond close to the site.

Rokeagle area director Richard Boxer said: "The important task of preserving these ecological species has been entrusted to Ecological Consultancy, whose advice through Dr Clair Williams has been invaluable.

"As a conscientious developer we are pleased that we can provide new premises for business and find homes for rare species at the same time."

Construction is planned to start as soon as the reptiles have been collected with the delivery of the first unit, which is being sold to a company relocating from Crawley, next Easter.