NATURE lovers from Riddlesden and Leeming took a 'hopper' bus to Halifax for the regional Toad Summit.

The volunteers run Toad Patrols in the two villages which help amphibians get across roads safely on their way to their local reservoir and canal.

The volunteers went to North Bridge Leisure Centre to join other enthusiasts, civic leaders and science experts for hop-level talks about how to preserve the UK's toad population.

Keighley Big Local paid for transport to ensure the Riddlesden and Leeming campaigners could hear the latest about and put their own views across.

Sue Patchett, from Riddlesden Toad Patrol, said: "The summit was fantastic. It was jam-packed with presentations by fellow conservationists, and plenty of topics that were real eye openers."

Sue spoke with representatives from Yorkshire Amphibian and Reptile Group about her own campaign to protect migrating toads on Penistone Hill, Haworth, from being trampled by fell runners.

The Toad Summit was organised by wildlife conservation charity Froglife, along with Calderdale Council, Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK and Halifax Scientific Society.

The organisations believe it is important to bring toads to the forefront of conservation efforts, after research by Froglife and the University of Zurich concluded that the UK’s common toads have declined by 68 per cent over a 30-year period.

The afternoon’s sessions were delivered by a variety of speakers ranging from academic presentations to community-focused discussions.