A momentary oversight caused road workers to make an unfortunate error when they accidentally entombed a hedgehog in asphalt.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ellie, Noah and Molly with their discovery. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWNEllie, Noah and Molly with their discovery. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN

The ill-fated animal’s remains were spotted protruding from a recently resurfaced road in Monewden, near Woodbridge, by Adam Dorsett’s eldest daughter – 10-year-old, Ellie.

“We were out with the kids and Ellie asked why there was a lump in the road,” said the father-of-three.

“She was curious about what it was. I suggested it was probably where they used too much tar.

“When I got closer, there was dark black circular patch, with bristles poking out between the chippings.”

Last month, resurfacing work took place along the road near the Dorsett family home.

The hedgehog’s remains became apparent about week after highways workers returned to sweep the road of chippings.

It is not known if the hedgehog was alive at the time of being buried.

Mr Dorsett, who restores timber framed buildings, said: “We’ll never know, but I would hope the hedgehog was dead before it happened. Either way, it has been preserved for a while.”

The 49-year-old said he was concerned that, if left to decompose, the hedgehog may leave behind a depression – or a pot hole – in a road surface. But council officials have promised to return and make amends.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk County Council said: “Prior to the surface dressing process, we endeavour to remove foreign materials from the existing road surface with the use of a mechanical road sweeper.

“If material is ingrained, we would normally use hand tools to remove it. On this occasion, it appears that the hedgehog was not identified during the cleaning process.

“We will arrange the necessary work to remove the remains.

“We apologise for any distress caused and thank the residents for reporting the matter.”

Last September, Suffolk Wildlife Trust appointed the country’s fourth ‘hedgehog officer’, Ali North, to help promote conservation in Ipswich and create new links between habitats.

In 2014, a survey asked Suffolk residents to log hedgehog sightings. In just a few months 12,000 hedgehogs were recorded in the county, with about 2,500 in and around Ipswich.