His real-life cousins, though, don't have the same luxury when they head off on their travels.

Thousands of them will take their chances as pedestrians as they emerge from hibernation over the next few weeks.

Many, sadly, will meet an unfortunate end as they try to cross busy roads en route to their breeding grounds.

But now help is at hand – courtesy of a toad patrol being set up in Leeds.

The patrol, organised by conservationist Kerry Fieldhouse, will help monitor the movement of the toads and, if necessary, help them across roads – in buckets.

Leeds City Council worker Kerry is also campaigning to have a toad crossing installed in Leeds which will urge motorists to slow down close to mating grounds.

Kerry said: "The common toad has gone on the species in decline list – mainly because their habitats are dying out.We think we've lost something like a million of them since the 1940s.

"While frogs will breed in garden ponds, toads need deeper water. When they wake from hibernation they instinctively make their way back to the ponds where they were born.

"Unfortunately they often have to cross busy roads to get there which can be really hazardous."

The Leeds area has three main toad populations – Gallows Hill In Otley, Middleton Park in south Leeds and the Fairburn Ings nature reserve near Allerton Bywater.

At Gallows Hill and Middleton Park, the toads don't have to cross roads to get to wild ponds, but at Allerton Bywater they need to navigate the busy A1 and A656. It is here, Kerry would like to see a new toad crossing sign.

She is also looking for volunteers to join the patrol which will need to turn out when the toads start waking up – probably during the next two to three weeks. Ring Kerry on 0113 237 5326 or Darren Storkey on 01977 628194.