ENVIRONMENTALIST Michael Wellcock is hopping mad over the number of frogs being killed on a busy road.

Now Mr Wellock, of Newington Drive, Bury, is coming to the rescue of frogs who face being run over while travelling from neighbouring gardens to a nearby pond.

He's frog-marching them to his own pond and one night alone this week collected 62 of the small amphibians.

And he is appealing to motorists using Newington Drive to slow down for crossing frogs, especially in the evenings.

"They are making their way over to the pond in Newington Drive from many gardens in the surrounding area," he says. "These frogs are coming out of hibernation and in many cases will travel up to half-a-mile to the pond. But many are being flattened as they try to cross one side of Newington Drive to the other. It's quite horrible".

However, scores of frogs which survived the arduous journey are now jumping for joy - thanks to the kindness of Mr Wellock, who is pictured with one of his new guests.

"On Monday night, I collected 62 and put them in my garden pond. And the week before, I rescued 45 toads. I've done this for the past four years, simply to save them from being run over.

"I just can't bear to see them splattered over the road," he added. "I want to highlight the problem and the plight of these frogs by asking people to be careful when they're driving in Newington Drive.

"If they frogs are coming that way, then I would appeal for people to help get them across to the other side of the road so they can complete their journey to the pond".

Now, many of the creatures are enjoying life in the watery surroundings of Mr Wellock's own garden pond. "If they want to stay there, I'm quite happy. But they can go anytime they want to," he says.

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