A warm-hearted couple have been giving a helping hand to cold-blooded but amorous amphibians in their neighbourhood.

Three years ago Phil and Jill Jones, from Montgomery, mounted a rescue scheme for migrating toads that were getting squashed on the B4385 road near their home as they made their way to traditional spawning grounds.

Mr and Mrs Jones counted the numbers of toads they had managed to save and the numbers killed and passed the details to conservation group Froglife.

By doing this they were able to get the two-mile stretch of road recognised as an official Department of Transport “toads crossing” site.

Official DoT signs were erected but every year Mr Jones also erects his own, signs along the road and fits “toad ladders” or mesh to certain road drain covers.

Neighbour Flor Douglas-Orr, who walks along Maldwyn Way, also moves any toads off the road.

Mr Jones said: “We have not asked for help as the B4385 is a narrow and twisty road. My wife and I go back and forwards along it by car with my wife getting out to move toads out of the way of traffic.”

A spokesman for Froglife said: “Throughout Britain tens of thousands of toads travel along traditional migration routes to their spawning grounds. Often they will use exactly the same route that they have used for many years, even if someone has built a road across it or has moved their ponds.

“Unlike frogs, who are good jumpers and able to leap away, our humble toads cannot move so fast when confronted by danger and many thousands of them are killed or injured where their migration routes cross roads every spring.”

But he added that thanks to people such as Mr and Mrs Jones, many toads were helped to cross roads safely.

Mr Jones said: “Sadly the common toad is no longer as common as it once was.

“This harmless amphibian is declining in Britain for a variety of reasons, including loss of habitat, pollution and, of course, increased traffic leading to more toad deaths on our roads.”

Picture: Jaya Leach, eight, and Nyah Leach, five, with the toad crossing sign.

By Deborah Knox