ECOLOGISTS are asking residents for help to spot lizards across the county, as part of a nationwide project.

Researchers are studying the ecology of non-native lizards which have become established in the UK and they need help from the people of Dorset to find them.

Specifically, they want people to go out searching for the alien wall lizard, which has been thriving in places where it has been deliberately introduced across Southern England.

Robert Williams, a PhD researcher, said: “You can help us assess just how widespread the lizards are in the UK and make a valuable contribution to this project by reporting your own UK wall lizard sightings, whether locally or further afield.”

With the help of the general public, researchers hope to try and find out what the ecological consequences of the introduction of the wall lizard to our shores have been. They wish to survey the lizard’s population size, assess the range of the lizard’s expansion and see if any new populations of the lizard can be identified.

Evidence suggests that native sand lizard and common lizard numbers have fallen in areas where wall lizards have become established.

To take part go to bit.ly/lizarduk or email Robert Williams at bsrjw@leeds.ac.uk.