Bat colony to make way for road

The bats will take up residence in a disused pigsty

A colony of bats is to be "re-housed" in a disused pigsty in Cumbria to make way for a new by-pass.

The pipistrelle bats live in Black Beck Hall on the route of the proposed A590 High and Low Newton by-pass.

The new by-pass will be an alternative route for traffic between the M6 and Barrow, taking vehicles off a road with a very bad accident record.

Black Beck Hall is to be demolished and the bats will be given an alternative roost in a nearby pigsty.

The Highways Agency said moving the bats was part of early preparation work for the by-pass and construction of the road will begin later in the summer.

Costs of the project have soared during the planning stages and have now reached more than £35m.

The bypass is expected to cut 90% of traffic through the villages, cutting noise and pollution, and reducing accidents.

Up to 14,000 vehicles a day use the A590, including about 2,000 lorries.