TRANSPORT chiefs have come to the rescue of frogs whose pond was threatened by vandals.

Nexus, which oversees buses and trains in Tyne and Wear, has built a habitat for the amphibians next to the Metro extension at Fulwell, Sunderland.

Residents created a nature area and pond 12 years ago but last year vandals twice punctured the pond, putting wildlife including frogs, tadpoles, toads and dragonflies at risk.

The pond was only one of two breeding areas for frogs in the area. The other, near the Stadium of Light, was due to be removed to make way for construction of the Metro extension.

Residents were determined to save some of the wildlife and rescued buckets of frogspawn from the pond and stored it in their gardens.

Nexus funded redevelopment of the pond and the Durham Wildlife Trust looked after the rescued wildlife until it was ready.

"When I heard about the problems I was only too pleased to be able to help in some way,'' said Sunderland Direct Communications Manager Bob Patterson.

"Local people were extremely upset when their pond was vandalised and this was made worse when we realised the construction for the new Stadium of Light station would disrupt the only other frog breeding pond in the area.

"We were determined to find a solution and the redevelopment of the vandalised site in Fulwell seemed the obvious answer.

"Much hard work and effort has gone into the project by the local community and the volunteers involved, and the result is a credit to everyone involved.