TOAD patrollers in Warminster are helping to save thousands of the town's amphibians from slaughter.

Thirty-two members of the Smallbrook Toad Patrol are monitoring some of the town's toad accident blackspots, including Smallbrook Road, Lower and Upper Marsh Roads and Henford Marsh.

The group go out from dusk for about six weeks every spring to count and rescue toads. Last year 30 per cent of the thousands of toads they found had been killed by cars.

Gail Wright says they are asking drivers to slow down or use other routes. The toads cross the roads to get to their breeding or feeding places.

She added: “This year the migration has started two weeks earlier than expected.

“The first toads and newts were out on the road on January 31 and nearly all those we saw were squashed.

"It is particularly upsetting to find dead females as there are far fewer females than males."

"If drivers do have to use Smallbrook Road we are asking them to slow down and look out for our patrollers wearing hi-viz jackets and carrying torches and buckets.

"A vehicle travelling at any speed is certain death for any toad, frog or newt in its path.”

At present, Smallbrook Road is de-restricted but the speed limit is scheduled to be reduced to 30mph, making this a less attractive route for motorists who are avoiding town centre congestion or using it for the ‘school run’.