The 30-yard hop must seem like a marathon when you are little bigger than an insect.

But at least the miniature frogs and toads risking life and limb in their annual migration were aided by the closure of a road - the tiny creatures' deadliest obstacle.

The busy single-track route around Holyrood Park in Edinburgh that traverses the path of the amphibians was expected to be shut all weekend to ease their struggle.

The Holyrood Park Rangers had to clear the road of up to 1000 baby frogs and toads yesterday alone as the creatures began their fight to get back on to Arthur's Seat from Dunsapie Loch.

Head Ranger Martin Gray said: "The froglets, around the size of the top of your little finger, have hatched over the last week due to the warm and mild weather, coupled with damp and rainy conditions.

"These conditions are ideal for these creatures, who prefer a warm and damp environment as opposed to living fully immersed in water.

"It is a common misconception that they all live in the water and while they do like damp areas, they often turn up in gardens.

"They are actually good to have in the garden because they eat pests like slugs and flies."

He said around 5-10% of the total number of eggs survive to become adult frogs and toads.

The migration involves British common toads and frogs and follows the spring migration in the opposite direction by their parents.

Mr Martin added: "It is amazing.

"It is instinct and their biological clock that makes the adults move, and it has been the weather conditions that have compelled the froglets to move."