A young woman who has dedicated her time to helping thousands of amphibians trying to cross a road during mating season said people have started calling her 'Toad Girl' as a way of making fun of her.
Hayley Watson, from Haydon Bridge, visits a rural road in Hexham several times each week to collect toads into a bucket as they try to move past cars to a pond - and even bandages some toads she notices are injured.
The 30-year-old said she usually helps around 200 toads and 20 frogs every night when the breeding season is in full swing. But without her help, as many as 500 toads are thought to die each night in mating season at the spot.
And she told the Mirror that she'll continue to save the animals, despite some of the locals thinking her dedication to saving the amphibians is "weird".
Hayley, a managing director of a hotel and pub, said: "During the breeding season, as many as 500 can die every night. Of course, this is very upsetting and is originally why I wanted to help them.
"People started calling me 'Toad Girl' as a way of making fun of me helping the toads. Some of the locals thought it was weird of me to want to help them as they saw the deaths as natural and part of life.
"I don't mind them calling me that and instead played up on it. I wear frog T-shirts sometimes. I don't let people's words break me, I think it says a lot more about them than it does about me.
"I really love British amphibians and can't ignore the plight of the toads, which are helpless to the wheels of traffic. What used to be "common" aren't as widely seen anymore, and they need our help. As animals, I think they're cute, very docile with big eyes."
Toads typically breed from March throughout the spring and, at times, into the summer. Hayley even alerted Northumberland County Council to the issue and, earlier this year, the authority put up temporary signage to warn drivers of the busy amphibians.
But Hayley says the response to her project has been somewhat mixed.
She, who is also a singer and songwriter, added: "Of course, I have haters but lots of people have said lovely things too, and want to help in the summer when the babies emerge.
"I rescue usually about 200 toads and about 20 frogs every night when the breeding season is in full swing. I've lost count how many I've helped now."
Hayley, who owns several pets including rats and mice, said: "I love all animals. I am also passionate about axolotls, a Mexican amphibian a bit like a big newt. I rescue these after their popularity boomed and currently own more than 20 of them."
Northumberland County Council was contacted for comment.
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