The population of toads has fallen greatly in recent years

The amorous amphibians cross the road around the Victorian lake in Llandrindod Wells in mid Wales at this time of year in order to breed.

But traffic on the road has meant many of the dating toads have not reached their destination.

Now Powys County Council has stepped in to temporarily close a stretch of the road overnight.

The breeding season for the toads runs from mid March to early April but in the past the council has said that closing the road was not an option.

Now they have decided to close a 620 metre stretch of the road between 2000 GMT and 0600 GMT until 3 April.

Dwindling population

"It is a minor road which runs around the lake, but it is well used by local people," said local county councillor Keith Tamplin.

"But everybody is quite happy with it".

Radnorshire Wildlife Trust has estimated that the area used to have a population of toads around 10,000 strong but it said their number has now dwindled to around 3,000.

"I don't think the road has helped at all with that," said the trust's conservation manager Julian Jones.

More than 200 toads had already been killed on the road this year before it was closed for the first time on Friday night.

He said he hoped the temporary road closure would be implemented in future years too.