Residents in Church Road in Ham are being asked to keep their eyes open for breeding toads which are shortly due to commence their annual carriageway cross.

Last year over 100,000 toads were helped across roads by volunteers throughout the UK and the number of toad patrols has doubled since 2009.

Volunteers from The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) have installed a mini fence along the highway that is in place to help to aid their journey.

The toads - which live on Ham Common, are currently breeding, and make the 100m journey from their habitat to pools on the other side of the road to spawn for about three weeks, at this time every year.

Cllr Martin Elengorn, Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sport Committee, said: “Our green spaces and lively wildlife habitats are particularly important in the context of the Climate Change Emergency.

"We all have a responsibility to make sure they are sustained.

“This migration is driven by the weather as the toads like warm, wet conditions.

"So whilst it will be difficult for us to predict exact dates and times, we will do our best to avoid inconvenience for the public.”

To ensure the safety of the toads, a small section of Church Road - between Ham Gate Avenue and Latchmere Lane, will be closed from March 9, until April 2nd, 2020.

Temporary signs have also been put up by the Council to warn drivers about the migration and all residents in the area have been notified by post.

Richmond have created a diversion should residents wish to avoid the closed road,.

A revised route is in place at Ham Gate Avenue, Upper Ham Road, Church Road and vice versa.