DRIVERS may be wondering why two-foot high plastic sheeting has appeared along an Oxfordshire road — it’s for catching newts.

Thames Water is about to start a £1.5m scheme to replace 100-year-old cast-iron pipes between Bicester and Ambrosden.

But before it can start it had to get special permission from English Nature to remove and rehome any rare Great Crested Newts, inset, at the site.

Along with the plastic sheeting, about 350 newt traps – buckets laid with leaves and twigs – have been installed to round up the rare creatures.

So far none have been found, although three smooth newts and three toads have been caught and moved to a nearby site.

Thames Water’s bio-diversity strategy manager Claudia Innes, pictured, said: “As long as they are outside the working area and you find a suitable habitat for them they will be absolutely fine.”

Work is due to start this month and expected to last until February. Picture: Jon Lewis