The Earl Shilton bypass has already been delayed after a colony of newts was found living on the site.

Two burial mounds dating back approximately 4,000 years were found by archaeologists, but no further delays are expected as a result of the find.

County archaeologist Richard Clark said it would reveal information about the county's early inhabitants.

It is their burial monuments and would have been visible around the landscape Richard Clarke, archaeologist

The remains, which are described as "very fragmentary", are believed to be two Bronze Age community leaders from the area.

The burial mounds, found on the top of a ridge to the east of Earl Shilton, were found during a planned archaeological dig on the construction site.

He said there were two wombs with each one probably containing one or two individuals.

"It is their burial monuments and would have been visible around the landscape."

He said there was no evidence of artefacts except for a few remnants of flint tools.

Information about the items would be put on public display in the future, he added.

The great crested newts, which are protected, will delay the completion of the project until next February and add an extra �1.2m to the cost.