GREAT crested newts have caused a £25,000 headache for Cleveland planners.

Work on a new recycling centre at Carlin How, near Saltburn, has been postponed while a survey on a protected newt colony is carried out.

It has so far been impossible for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council to count the newts.

Experts will have to wait until the newts emerge from hibernation next month.

Councillors had earmarked more than £90,000 to build a new recycling centre at Carlin How Farm.

English Nature objected when it emerged that great crested newts were living on the site.

Durham Wild Life Services Ltd has been commissioned to look at protecting the newts.

The council had to apply for a great crested newt licence and a newt fence and tunnel, costing £7,000, has been designed. Unless the Government allows some building to start before the newt study, the council will lose 20 per cent of a £90,000 Government grant.

The money was approved on the understanding that work would begin by March 31. Work could now be delayed until August.

The council's executive committee will discuss the issue at at meeting at Eston Town Hall on Tuesday, March 4.