THEY'RE back. And this time they're angry. Tonight the Diary can report the return of Newton and Ridley, the great crested newts whose presence in wild meadows close to Osbaldwick dented plans to build a 540-home model village there.

Exhausted by their sudden fame, the pair went into early hibernation - only to be woken by a visit to the site by some members of York's planning committee the other week.

The newts were annoyed to discover that their habitat was still under threat from Joseph Rowntree Foundation's determination to build Derwenthorpe - even though they are a protected species.

So they have embarked on a campaign of direct action.

As Newts4Justice, they have stormed various key York buildings to demand that their home is left alone.

Newton calmly climbed on to city landmarks, often unveiling a protest banner, while Ridley took the photographs.

By doing so they exposed alarming gaps in the city's security. These two fellas could easily have been the amphibious wing of al Qaida, intent on bringing suicide bomb devastation to our ancient streets.

Shockingly, however, no one did anything to stop them.

The Diary has seen a dossier of pictures of Newts4Justice in action. We will be publishing a selection over the coming days.

Tonight's picture shows Newton at York Guildhall. Normally shy, nocturnal animals, the great crested newts have reluctantly stepped into the limelight to highlight their cause.

Let's hope they keep it peaceful and don't enrol the help of any relatives.

The last thing we want is Godzilla perched atop York Minster.

INCIDENTALLY, we were disappointed to read in a progress report to the Derwenthorpe Partnership Committee that publicity about the proposed new village has been beset by "mischievous letters and articles via the local press".

Can anyone direct us to where these mischievous articles have appeared? This sort of thing cannot be tolerated.

The same document talks about setting up a traffic sub-group "when outline planning consent is obtained". Shouldn't that be "if"?

YESTERDAY we revealed that letters sent out by director of the pension Service Alexis Cleveland suggest that she works simultaneously in London and Dundee. This prompts a call from reader Michael Knowles.

"That's not all," he said. "The letters were posted in Belfast."

Alexis concludes her letter to Mr Knowles by reassuring him that he need do nothing, his pension payments will continue as before.

If so, that's a little worrying. They go to Fishergate Post Office, one of the branches that could soon be closed.

Updated: 08:48 Wednesday, November 03, 2004