HAVE we got newts for you – that’s what workmen building a new £6 million water pipeline in the Vale of York are saying after making a wildlife discovery.

While constructing the Yorkshire Water pipe, near Marton, contractors Laing O’Rourke discovered protected great-crested newts had made themselves at home in a pond along the line of the structure.

To avoid putting the rare amphibians at risk, experts were called in to trap them and move them to a temporary base while engineers drilled beneath their home.

Once the digging was complete, the newts were returned to their usual residence.

They were protected by specially-designed fences to prevent them straying into danger while the rest of the work was finished.

Children from Green Hammerton Primary School were among the first to visit the newts in their new home and learn about the environment, as well as the investment Yorkshire Water is pouring into the area’s drinking water arrangements.

John Bond, Yorkshire Water’s capital communications advisor, said: “Although the water supply already meets or exceeds the high standards demanded by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, long-term projections suggested significant investment would be required at the Marton water treatment works to meet the challenges of the future.”

This led to the company choosing to lay 11 miles of new pipeline linking its water treatment works at Acomb Landing in York with an existing main north of Whixley.

When the supply is switched over during the summer, softer water will be pumped from Acomb and into a distribution network feeding Marton, Whixley, Upper Dunsforth, Little Ouseburn, Great Ouseburn, Thorpe Underwood, Cattal, Hunsingore, Walshford, Kirk Deighton, Green Hammerton, Nun Monkton, Moor Monkton, Rufforth and Hessay.

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to show the children round and hope the visit gave them an understanding of the newts’ role in the local eco-system,” said Mr Bond.