WILDLIFE has not been forgotten as Wyre Piddle prepared to celebrate the opening of its new bypass today.

Otters have been helped thanks to Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and the county council who have monitored the crucial role of Piddle Brook in the animals' recovery.

The brook is a key point in the whole river catchment, allowing the otter to spread throughout the water network.

By working with road constructors, underpasses and guiding fences have been created as part of the bridge and bypass design to help reduce otter road deaths.

"Without these extra features otters are at high risk of being killed by road traffic, said Andy Graham, wildlife project manager for the trust.

Danger

"Heavy rain and flooded rivers will also force otters up onto the road and into danger if there is no alternative crossing available to them."

"In this case, the future recovery of the otter in the county would have been jeopardised without this approach."

Road casualties make up to 60 per cent of recorded otter deaths in the UK.

The majority of animals are killed from November to December and March to April, which correspond with times of high rainfall.

Work on the £5.6m road bypass first began in February this year after 30 years of tireless campaigning by villagers in Upper Moor and Wyre Piddle.

County Councillor Bob Bullock and local bypass campaigner Eileen Attwood were due to open the road this morning.