Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is appealing to people to help save the increasingly rare great crested newt.

The country's largest and most endangered newt is strictly protected under UK law it's illegal to even touch them without a licence.

But the habitats of the newts are not protected, which means when their natural habitat ponds dry up or are filled in, the newts die out.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust head of fundraising Ivo Smith, said: "We are lucky in Wiltshire because the great crested newt has a relative stronghold here.

"But they are still under huge pressure and one of the biggest problems we face is that we just don't know exactly how well the newts are doing."

The wildlife trust said it has an incomplete picture of the newts whereabouts.

Mr Smith said: "Small numbers of newts have been sighted all across the county, but where there are gaps on the map we don't know if there aren't any newts or simply if no-one has looked for them."

The trust is appealing for people to help them fund the research into the newts and restoration into breeding ponds for the newts.

To make a donation to the appeal, or for more information, call (01380) 725670.