Weeks-old badgers picked up in 'miracle' rescue

The badger cubs were found at the side of the road in South Petherton

Three badger cubs, thought to be only weeks old, have been rescued after being found on the side of a village road.

A driver spotted them on the 7 April in South Petherton in Somerset, while the body of what was believed to be the cubs' mother was spotted further down the road.

The cubs were handed over to be cared for at Secret World Wildlife Rescue near Highbridge and named Dr Pepper, Pepsi and Sprite.

When they arrived at the rescue centre, they were malnourished and covered in fleas, with Secret World staff adding it was a "miracle" the cubs survived so long.

Katie Gibbs, a supervisor at the centre, said: "I've never seen that many [fleas] on a single animal before.

"They were weak, frightened, and desperately in need of help. It's a miracle they survived as long as they did on their own."

The badgers were malunourished and covered in fleas when they were found

Wildlife carer Yas Bennett told Vicki Clark at Breakfast on BBC Radio Somerset the team at the centre were initially sceptical about three cubs being found together.

"We asked for video and bless them, we found out their mum had passed away and those poor babies had been running up to the mum's body to find food from her.

"Luckily we were able to go out and collect them and they've been here ever since."

Ms Bennett said the cubs were initially bottle fed and are slowly being introduced to solid foods.

The charity has launched an appeal in recent weeks to raise £20,000 towards its vet costs, saying in the last two years, those outgoings have increased by 27%.