A PLEA has been made for people not to steal wood due to be used to create a habitat for amphibians along a new road.

Blackburn with Darwen Council's roads team has appealed to the public after logs stored for the habitat have been removed from the site of the Ellison Fold Way link road in Darwen.

The scheme, linking Marsh House Lane and Ivinson Road will open up land on Bailey’s Field for the building of 350 homes and ease traffic on the A666.

A spokesman said: "Part of the plan for the Ellison Fold Way Link Road project is to create a habitat for amphibians along the length of the new carriageway. Unfortunately some members of the public appear to see these piles as free fuel for their wood burning fires, and a number of logs have been removed from site.

"Please could we appeal to people not to remove the logs, as they are integral to the development of a successful and sustainable wildlife habitat."

"We ask that the logs are left in situ.

"The logs need to be soaked, once their placement is complete, to encourage amphibians particularly to make their new home in them, and this will reduce their use for burning.

"We are keen to see the habitat become established and any help in supporting this from the public would be much appreciated, not only from us, but also we're sure, from the wildlife itself.