Battle lines have been drawn to save Wiltshire's least known residents.

They are shy, brightly coloured and at risk of being wiped out.

The great crested newt likes nothing better than a clean rural pond, but in too many cases those environments are disappearing.

So too, fear wildlife experts, is the species itself and now an investigation is under way to find out what is happening to the newt population.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust believes the county is doing better than many other parts of the country and say the newts are 'clinging on against the odds'.

The water-loving black and orange 'Triturus cristatus' are the largest of the UK newts and can be easily identified despite their dark brown background colour.

Males have high jagged crests along their backs and tails and both sexes have vivid orange bellies patterned with black botches and spots.

Trust chairman Geraldine Wimble has now launched a £20,000 appeal to implement a species recovery plan. The main reason for the declining population is the misuse or removal of ponds in the countryside.

Ms Wimble says that if they can raise sufficient funds the trust will search ponds to establish which contain the 140 mm long creatures and which are most in need of restoration.

Working parties will then start on restoring the habitats.