Sleeping lizards have held up the creation of a park area on a small piece of waste land.

A colony of common lizards hsa been found on land next to Garland Road, Parkeston, but, despite the name, the cold-blooded creatures are very rare.

The redevelopment work has been stopped in its tracks while the relaxing reptiles sleep off the winter in deep hibernation.

Dr Chris Gibson of English Nature and environmental consultant Adrian Knowles have been searching the site since Febuary.

So far about 30 lizards have been found but they think there are more.

Mr Knowles said: "The ones I have found are happily sat in my back bed room at home. I think there are more out there."

The find comes hard on the heels of a new cash injection of £66,000 from Tendring Council to redevelop the former scrap yard site.

But Dr Gibson feels the whole subject of brown field redevelopment needs looking at again.

He said: "People don't realise that so-called derelict land is a perfect home for wildlife. It can be as diverse as a rainforest but on people's back doors."

He said the common lizard was not yet an endangered species but he highlighted the fragile state of the population.

"They are a protected species because they are on the edge," he said.

There are three species of lizard in Britain, the common lizard, the slow worm and the sand lizard but only the common lizard is native to Essex.

The creatures can grow to about seven inches in length and live on slugs, woodlice and other creepy crawlies.

They hibernate through the winter but start to emerge from sleep in March or April.

Reptile hunt - Dr Chris Gibson and Adrian Knowles search the site.

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