The city is showing its green credentials

The cash-strapped capital is building a network of walls and tunnels to protect frogs trying to cross a busy road.

The project is reportedly costing 430,000 euros ($474,200).

It comes at a time when the city is grappling with debts of a 46bn euros and is trying to make savings by closing public services, including swimming pools and kindergartens.

Fifteen tunnels are being built to give the frogs safe passage to a lake, wildlife protection officials said.

A 650-metre (2,000 feet) wall is also under construction in Pankow, east Berlin, to guide the frogs towards the tunnels.

Guenther Brinker, head of Berlin's taxpayer association, said: "I'm all for protecting animals, but this really is a utopian scheme.

"It's a colossal waste of money."