Campaigners against a major road development plan have said the works will threaten rare animals.

Four rare species of bats are in the countryside where the A27 Arundel bypass would be built. 

Protesters against the development said that National Highways "have failed to fully inform the public of the real impact of the route".

According to the developers, the construction will have a "temporary adverse impact on bats".

The campaigners argut that there will instead be "an ongoing, very large adverse impact" on the mammals.

Bechstein's bats and Barbarstelle bats which are categorised as "near threatened" and are on the UK's red list nest in close proximity to where the road built. 

National Highways has indentified the presence of protected Grey Long-Eared bats in the scheme area at Walberton.

A total of 16 of the 17 breeding bat species in the UK are found in the countryside where the bypass would be built.

National Highways' plans include a bat bridge which is supposed to allow bats to fly safely over the road.

Steve McAuliffe, a consultant ecologost and Councillor for Arundel and Walberton said: "The design of the bat bridge proposed near Tye Lane, Walberton is not supported by any research which shows that it is likely to be effective.

"I'm only aware of one example of a bat bridge that has shown some promise. This bridge is 30m wide with vegetation running along each side to provide a quiet and dark central corridor through which bats can fly safely.

"National Highways have told me verbally that the bat bridge proposed here is only around 7m wide and doesn't have a central quiet corridor." 

Jacqueline Thompson, consultant ecologist and botanist, added: “Any vegetation to be used on overbridges or for directing bats to crossing structures takes years to grow and develop into effective guidance structures for commuting bats. The practical feasibility of such an achievement, prior to the road opening, is not at all certain.”