GAS workers in Rixton have swapped their diggers for buckets to help some scaly friends!

They have caught more than 200 great crested newts, a breed rarely seen in Europe, and moved them to a plush, £15,000 specially-created nature reserve on land surrounding the Transco gas compressor station.

Kind-hearted workers have created three ponds for the amphibians, fenced off the area to keep them safe, then helped newt handlers to catch them and transfer them to their new home.

Andy Smith, project manager, said: "It's been a massive operation. We've put down almost 800 square feet of carpet and sunk more than 700 buckets to catch them!

"The newts are really sleepy at this time of year. They climb under the carpets and into the buckets for warmth and shelter."