First it was rope bridges for dormice, now it is bridges for badgers.

But there is a serious side to the eco-friendly device being used in Bolnore Village, a new housing development outside Haywards Heath.

The latest bridge design, or Matiere Arch to give it its proper title, is intended to help badgers cross the waterway it spans without straying on to the road above and being killed.

It is also the first time the design has been used in the UK, although it has been used in Europe since the Eighties.

Andrew Yeardley, project director of the Crest Nicholson development, said: "The use of this bridge is an integral part of the overall strategy for nature conservation on the Bolnore Village development."

Crest Nicholson has previously installed a rope bridge to help dormice cross the new relief road they are building and has moved a colony of great crested newts to protect them.

Mr Yeardley said: "This particular section of the relief road is probably one of the most sensitive sections of the road.

"We had to deal not only with the existing species in the area but take account for the first time of putting a road over an existing waterway.

"We had to think about not only what animals use it now but what animals may be encouraged to use it in the future.

"We saw this system as the most sustainable for the job we needed to do. The alternative would have been to have an open bridge but such a structure would have been three times the width of the Matiere system, it would also have substantial foundations and would have increased the environmental impact."

Bolnore Village is an 800-home development, which will eventually incorporate shops, health and community amenities, a school and recreational facilities.

Building work on areas which have planning permission is likely to continue for another two years.