Experts have been drafted into remove poisonous snakes from the path of a new road.

The developers have drafted in animal experts in a bid to reduce the impact of work on wildlife, including poisonous adders, bats, badgers and birds.

Work has started on the multi-million pound Haywards Heath relief road, which is designed to reduce town centre congestion.

The road will run to the south of the town through woodland and fields.

A spokesman for Crest Homes, which is employing contractor Hanson Construction Projects to build the road, said: "Expert ecologists have had the unenviable task of clearing the snake population by hand, including Britain's most dangerous species, the adder. The animals are then safely rehomed.

"The hibernation and breeding habits of the resident wildlife have influenced and even at times dictated the works programme.

"The contractors have waited until the local bat population have emerged from their winter hiding places and nesting birds have finished their breeding season."

Other environmental measures include badger tunnels and a 45-metre bridge over ponds to protect great crested newts.

Mid Sussex district councillor Julia Brown said: "Crest are setting a fine example of what can be done.

"It's very important the environment is looked after as much as possible so there is something to be passed on to future generations.

"If we fail to protect our own wildlife, how can we criticise other countries for destroying their rainforests?"

The work is expected to be finished by 2006.

About 1,000 new homes were included in the scheme so developers, rather than taxpayers, footed the bill for the road.

But Pamela Maxwell, a former chairman of the Haywards Heath Amenities Society, said: "It's wrong to have gone ahead and made plans for the vast amount of housing when our infrastructure is crumbling."