Local authorities are being asked to use a new small mammal warning sign to help improve road safety and protect animals.

The sign will be used in areas of high accident rates to help improve road safety and protect animals

The new sign is intended for use in areas where accident rates are highest; according to the Department for Transport, 629 people were injured in accidents involving an animal in the road (excluding horses) in 2017 while four people were killed.

It will also tackle the decline in wildlife numbers, in particular for hedgehogs whose population in rural areas has halved since 2000.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “We have some of the safest roads in the world but we are always looking at how we can make them safer. Motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users are particularly at risk.

“The new small mammal warning sign should help to reduce the number of people killed and injured, as well as helping our precious small wild mammal population to flourish.”