Why the great crested newt may no longer be disturbed

A government consultation on whether to change the rules governing how contractors deal with protected species when developing sites ends this week. The focus is on the great crested newt, a species classified as endangered under European law.

Natural England, the government body in charge of protecting Britain's wildlife, is putting forward proposals that would make the current licensing system ''more flexible and strategic.''

It would mean that councils and developers no longer have to move individual great crested newts as long as they protect the biggest colonies and most important habitats.

John Dickson, Chairman of the Reptile and Amphibian Group for Somerset, showed Claire Marshall one of the newts from his own pond.