NEWTS are high on the agenda as a £2.3m pipeline scheme to help protect drinking water supplies in East Hampshire gets under way this month.

Special fencing has been installed to prevent the great-crested variety of the amphibian straying into working areas while South East Water builds new mains in the Farringdon, Oakhanger, Bordon and Greatham and West Liss areas.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.