THEY may only be 4in long, but a colony of protected great-crested newts is costing a North-East businessman thousands of pounds.

For the endangered amphibians have forced Javid Majid to rethink plans to redevelop a derelict country club after fears that a colony could be disturbed.

Residents of Kirklevington, Yarm, near Stockton, spoke up for the newts - Latin name triturus cristatus - after they learnt of a scheme to redevelop the dilapidated Kirk Country Club.

Mr Majid, owner of nearby Tall Trees country club, has now been told by English Nature to revise his proposals to convert the boarded-up eyesore into a block of 32 plush apartments, because a pool on the site is home to the newt colony.

"It's costing me thousands to redesign the whole scheme for the apartments to save the newts," he said. "But you have to respect the environment.

"What I want to do is build beautiful apartments - they will enhance the village outlook. We are redesigning and the pond will be made a feature."

Mr Majid has also applied for a provisional public entertainment licence for the former club.

A spokeswoman for the planning authority, Stockton Borough Council, said: "There was an objection by English Nature, who have asked for the plan to be revised so it does not affect the great-crested newt. We are awaiting the revised plan."

Jane Boaden, conservation officer with English Nature, said the applicant would be asked to commission a survey involving an ecological consultant.

"That person would have a look at the design proposals and how the development would impact on the great-crested newts," she said.

The largest of Britain's native species, female great-crested newts can lay up to 300 eggs, but a chromosome disorder means that less than half the eggs may survive.

The creatures can only be handled by someone who holds a Government licence to do so.

They are protected under the terms of the Wildlife and Countryside Act from disturbance of habitat.