Work on part of a multi-million pound rail bridge project is set to be delayed until the autumn after the discovery of a colony of great-crested newts.

A medium-sized colony of 11 newts was discovered close to the railway bridge at Main Street, Kirby Bellars, near Melton.

The bridge, along with a series of others across the county, is being replaced in a £53 million project.

This will allow larger freight containers to travel along the railway line from east-coast ports.

Work was due to start on the Kirby Bellars bridge in June, but Network Rail, which is carrying out the project, has now revealed it is likely to be postponed until October.

A spokeswoman said: "This has caused some not-inconsiderable delay to the programme for this bridge but, fortunately, has not affected any others in the same project.

"It also means we will now be working on the bridge through winter, which brings its own challenges.

"In terms of cost, there are those of the external specialists and also land-access fees for the field, which we are already paying."

The company had to apply for licences to Natural England to fence off an area around the bridge at Kirby Bellars.

Traps were laid earlier this month to catch any remaining newts.

The traps are checked daily by an environmental specialist and the newts relocated.

It will be a further two months before the company will be allowed to restart the work.

The spokeswoman said: "As an environmentally responsible company, we are happy to work with Natural England to protect the newts. The delay is inconvenient but is something we are accommodating."

It is the latest in a costly series of delays to major projects in Leicestershire and Rutland when the small, protected amphibians have been discovered.

The discovery of a colony alongside the route of the Earl Shilton bypass in 2008 contributed towards an overspend on the road project.

The £3.1m renovation of South Charnwood swimming pool, in Syston, was held up by three months after great crested newts were found near to where work was to start.

And, in 2006, Rutland County Council had to pay £26,000 to move three newts which were found on land earmarked for the Oakham bypass.

Neill Talbot, senior conservation officer with the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, said: "Great-crested newts are an increasingly rare species both in Leicestershire and the UK and desperately need protection."

As part of the bridge rebuilding project, Leicester Road, in Melton, will be closed overnight on weeknights from today and Tuesday, September 7, for work on a £2.75 million replacement bridge.

Network Rail's telephone helpline number is 0845 711 4141.