SPRING may have finally sprung as children gathered to spot the year's first frogspawn in Brent.

Pupils from Chalkhill Primary School , in Barnhill Road, Wembley, were amazed to see the hardy and healthy frogs spawning on Tuesday (March 2) last week in the school pond.

Martin Francis, of Brent School Without Walls, who works with the children on developing their nature garden, said: "Experts were expecting spring to be three to four weeks late this year after the cold winter, but there must be something special about our frogs because they are only a week later than last year.

"The pond is in an unpromising position between a tarmac playground and the Metropolitan railway line but it hosts frogs, newts and toads and many invertebrates. It shows how important it is to provide habitats to conserve nature."

Frogspawn is a particularly good indicator of spring because frogs are cold-bloodied and sensitive to temperature, so warmer weather encourages them to start laying their eggs earlier.

Martin still expects the main spawning to happen in a few weeks' time when the weather is warmer. He said: "We are a little worried that this spawn will fall victim to the current freezing nights and we will be watching anxiously for the first tadpoles to emerge."

The first frog spawn in Brent was observed on February 24 last year at Chalkhill's pond and on February 26, 2008 at Roe Green Walled Garden pond.