VOLUNTEERS have hopped to it to help Barrowford Park's frogs.

Last March hundreds of dead frogs were found drowned in the park's lake after slipping down from the nearby wetland area and finding themselves unable to get out.

So volunteers from the Friends of Barrowford Park, which was set up last year and has taken over management of the area, constructed a stone ramp to prevent the problem recurring.

The wetland area and lake were created five years ago and have attracted a large community of frogs, as well as ducks and geese.

But because the lake is man-made there is a gap of more than a foot between the water's surface and the edge of the lake. Frogs who settled in the wetland area took advantage of a plastic pipe to slide into the lake and were then unable to get out because the distance is too far for them to jump.

From the end of February to early April last year hundreds were seen floating dead in the lake.

Pendle Council's outreach officer for parks, cemeteries and outdoor recreation Fred Stewart said: "Everybody was very sad last year when so many frogs died.

"As with any species, they graduate towards the best habitat and a large population has grown up and is the mainstay of the wetland.

"The Friends group now run that area and they have done a lot of work clearing it up and planting wild flowers and decided they wanted to help the frogs now, before the problem starts again.

"The frogs are very popular in Barrowford, especially with children and families. This year we hope to have a thriving population."