By James Johnson

Published at 11:24, Monday, 20 August 2012

A population of legless lizards has been found in a churchyard.

A slow worm

Slow worms – which resemble snakes – burrow into the ground and a Dalston man believes there may be around 50 of them in the village churchyard.

The slow worms are a protected species and resident Dave Hickson says they should be treated with care.

Mr Hickson said: “They’re in the ancient part of the yard and there’s a conservation plan being put together.

“They are there because the area hasn’t been disturbed, and they should be protected as much as they possibly can.”

He added that in order to ensure the population thrive, the grass in the yard should be cut less regularly to avoid the lizards being killed.

Bryan Craig, chairman of Dalston parish council, said: “There’s a history of slow worms being in this area but we have to look after the people who use it as well.

“We have agreed that we will have a survey and we are doing no more work in that area until that has been completed.

“Grass cutting has stopped and we are doing nothing more.”

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk