A DEVELOPMENT company was fined £1,500 with £200 costs yesterday for damaging one of Europe's most important havens for the rare Greater Crested Newt.

Chester-based Cannon Kirk (Northern) pleaded guilty to damaging the habitat at Stryt Las, Rhos, Wrexham.

Wrexham magistrates heard the newt pond was next to land owned by the company which it wanted to develop for housing.

At the end of October last year, Countryside Council for Wales officers found Cannon Kirk undertaking excavation work with diggers.

Susan Duncombe, prosecuting, said the company knew it needed permission from the CCW and the Welsh Assembly for any work but they ignored this.

The company denied its actions were cynical and said it had been undertaking exploratory work.

The company had mistakenly asking permission to undertake the work from the wrong authority, said Colin Malpass, defending.