A MILE-long fence has been placed around a major trunk road to prevent newts from wandering onto a construction site.

Western Power is relocating electricity pylons on the A465 Heads of the Valleys road at Llanfoist as part of preparatory work for the Abergavenny to Gilwern phase of a £300m road scheme.

And to comply with wildlife regulations, the National Assembly has put a fence of polythene sheeting around the site to prevent injuries to the newts that inhabit the area.

"It is a temporary measure and will remain while work on the pylons continues," said Gary Bosher, project manager for Western Power. "It is likely to remain in place for at least 18 months afterwards while the actual dualling work takes place.

"With all the work going on the great crested newts, a protected species, are likely to be attracted by the vibrations and could easily be injured or killed if they are not restricted."

"The fence goes all the way around the identified area, so we have effectively boxed them in," said Mr Bosher.

A spokesman for the National Assembly said that because the fence is predominantly polythene, the costs involved are negligible. He also revealed that a specialist officer from the Assembly's countryside division visits the fence daily to check it is adequately keeping the newts away. The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) welcomed the move.

"Creating a temporary environmental fence is a simple but very effective way of protecting great crested newts and other amphibians while road or building works are in progress," said Maggie Hill of the CCW.

And newts aren't the only species to be catered for. Western Power has also used boxes and lines to prevent bats from nesting at the site.