An exclusion zone for some of the newts – among the world’s rarest amphibians – could be set up in East Northamptonshire to preserve them while work is carried out to protect the area against extreme weather.

Anglian Water needs to create a new sewer overflow in Higham Ferrers that will stop storm water flooding sewers and prevent sewage from overflowing.

The current overflow leads to a lake, and has been classed by the Environment Agency as unsatisfactory.

The new one will direct heavy rainfall into a watercourse which goes into the River Nene.

But before the company can start the work it needs to get permission from Natural England by showing that it will protect the great crested newts which live in Richmond Park in School Road where a new piping system will be installed.

Natural England planning casework adviser Neil Pike said: “The great crested newt is the largest species of newt we have in this country.

“They’re protected because we have about 70 per cent of world’s population and if their numbers start to decline here we would run the risk of the species becoming extinct.

“They don’t tend to stray more than a few hundred metres away from their ancestral breeding grounds so it’s important that where we find a healthy population we don’t disturb them.

“If that’s not possible they should be moved to an area nearby, which has been created to be like their old home.

“An exclusion fence has to be put up to stop them trying to return to where they used to live.”

The Environment Agency has called for the work to take place because the water in the lake is relatively still and can become septic because it takes a while for the storm water to disperse.

Anglian Water plans to put up an amphibian exclusion fence while the work is carried out and will use special boring equipment to install the pipes to minimise the impact on the newts.

A spokesman said: “We take every step to make sure the environment and wildlife is protected while we carry out the work.”