A CONSERVATION and breeding area for great crested newts is to be created in a farm field near Wellington.

Great crested newts are among the most threatened species in the UK because of a huge decline in their population over the past 60 years and are now protected in law.

Planning permission has been given for the change of use of part of a field at Rewe Farm, Thorne St Margaret, to a wildlife conservation area with the formation of a pond for the newts.

The kidney shaped pond will be 72 feet long by 40 feet wide and up to six-and-a-half feet deep and will include two underground chambers in which the newts can hibernate.

Planning officer Karen Wray said the project would provide valuable biodiversity benefits to the area and enable development on the farm which might have been refused permission because of the impact on great crested newts.