M4 relief road threatens wildlife, campaigners say

The favoured route of a planned £1bn M4 relief road around Newport threatens protected wildlife sites, campaigners have claimed.

Ten of the UK's leading environmental charities have written an open letter to the Welsh Government objecting to current plans, claiming they represent "ecological destruction on an unprecedented scale".

The so-called black route would cut through several protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

The Welsh Government said it was committed to the new road, but a public inquiry would "scrutinise the options".

Steffan Messenger reports.