WILDLIFE lovers have hit out at council bosses after a pond was grassed over at the Botanic Gardens.

The move has left frogs who had made the pool their home without a place to rear their young.

The West End park's water feature was filled in as part of the £7million restoration of the popular visitor attraction Kibble Palace, which reopened in late 2006.

Although the council moved the frogs to other ponds, many have made their way back to their old address - only to find it's been replaced by a puddle.

Furious animal watchers claim there has been a succession of dead frogs found in the area.

Councillor Martha Wardrop, the Green Party member for Hillhead, today called for the attraction to be reinstated after being contacted by residents concerned about the "destruction" of the vital wildlife habitat.

She said: "The frogs are dying from the loss of their habitat in the Botanic Gardens.

"Why has this pond been grassed over when it provided a rare and vital habitat for amphibian life within the city?

"Amphibians in particular are a key indicator of the health of an environment and control insects and pests.

"Glasgow City Council should acknowledge the importance of a still water habitat to biodiversity in the Botanic Gardens and re-instate the pond as soon as possible, at its original or a nearby location."

The park pond, which is featured on a map at the gardens' gates, was between Kibble Palace and the Byres Road entrance.

It was built in the 1970s and was popular with families who enjoyed spotting aquatic wildlife.

Some of the frogs were rehoused at Bingham's Pond near Gartnavel Hospital when the attraction was removed around three years ago.

Glasgow City Council admitted the pond had been removed as part of the revamp of the A-listed Kibble.

A spokeswoman said: "The pond referred to was removed to allow the refurbishment of the Kibble Palace some three years ago. There are still other ponds nearby, which provide a natural habitat for frogs.

"Due to the excessive rainfall this year, a large puddle where the pond used to be has encouraged the return of the frogs to the old pond site.

"As this is not a viable option we have been removing the frogs as soon as they're discovered to alternative sites.

"We are however looking at possible locations where an additional pond could be created.

"The council is leading the way in enhancing and protecting endangered species and habitats within the city through the work of its biodiversity action plan.

"Wildlife habitats are thriving and frog populations are benefiting from pond creation and management programmes."