WORK on the multi-million pound university campus in Newport city centre will be halted for three months - so it does not disturb the breeding habits of a rare fish.

Last week it was announced a building contractor was due to start on site near the Riverfront - work which also sees the closure of the nearby car park.

But the Argus can reveal that workers will down tools at the beginning of March so it does not affect the endangered shad which lives in the Usk.

Graham Rogers, deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Wales, Newport, said addressing environmental issues, such as the breeding season for shad, was a big consideration during the planning stages of the £35 million city centre campus.

"Initial site clearance work on this major regeneration project is due to start before the shad-breeding season begins in March."

The university has planned for construction work to commence at the end of June once the breeding season is over.

Julian Branscombe, chief executive of Gwent Wildlife Trust, described the Allis and Twaite Shad that live in the Usk as extremely rare.

"The River Usk and the River Wye are the main rivers in the whole of Britain where these two different species of shad breed."

He added the fish, a relative of the herring, required rivers which were free of pollution and were also in direct contact with unpolluted coastal waters.

Mr Branscombe described it as a "sensible precaution" to avoid major engineering works when the shad were breeding.

"I would strongly support making use of all the brownfield land in the middle of Newport. I want to see Newport undergo this renaissance and it is great if they can do it without disturbing the wildlife."

The city centre campus, which will be a "hothouse" for the arts and business schools, is due to be completed in 2010.