Three hundred tonnes of limestone have been used to construct the ramps on the banks of the canal near Thorne to allow livestock who fall in to be able to get out again.

Without the ramps the deer are not able to escape the waterway because the walls are made of sheer sheet metal piles.

Ed Miliband MP visited the site to take a look at the initiative with representatives from the RSPCA, Doncaster Council and Network Rail.
Mr Miliband told the Gazette: "I very much hope this will make a significant difference and reduce the number of deer and other animals who find themselves stranded in the canal."

The installation of the ramps has followed months of hard work after a meeting convened by Mr Miliband and initiated by Thorne resident Ray Collins.

The working group was attended by organisations including the RSPCA, Doncaster MBC, British Waterways, Associated British Ports, The Fire Service, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Network Rail, Thorne Council and Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum.

Jonathan Hart-Woods, Heritage and Environment Manager for British Waterways Yorkshire, said: "We will continue to work closely with Ed Milliband MP and the working group to monitor the situation and not rest on our laurels."

In addition to the ramps in the canals, Network Rail have installed deer proof fencing along the railway line to reduce incidents of deer being hit by trains.