In a move to protect London's hedgehogs, new 'hedgehog crossing' road signs have been unveiled in the southwest London Borough of Kingston upon Thames.
The prickly critters have been given their own road signs and crossing points in an effort to lessen the numbers killed on busy roads - exacerbated by the hedgehog's lack of fight or flight response when it senses danger.
Instead, the animal curls up into ball in an effort to use its outer layer of spikes, or quills, to ward off potential predators - a response that proves ineffective in many threatening situations, including on the roads.
Local media reported that 150,000 hedgehogs are killed each year in road accidents in the UK.
Four signs have been unveiled in Kingston after plans were approved by the Department for Transport in December last year.
