Ipswich woman, 80, spends more than £300 on urban fox deterrents

Hilary Kenny said foxes were burrowing dens opposite her house

An 80-year-old woman has spent more than £300 on fox deterrents, after she said the animals caused mess and disruption in the area.

Hilary Kenny, of Edgeworth Road, in Ipswich, said urban foxes were living in tunnels opposite her house.

The local council said they had no authority to deal with foxes but offered advice to ease the problem.

"It's causing a lot of stress to people living here and it's destroying our quality of life," said Ms Kenny.

"They are leaving poo on front doors, digging large holes, stealing child and dog toys from gardens... We don't know what to do about it."

Hilary Kenny said the foxes were often visible in the day time

She added that one neighbour had lost four rabbits to foxes, while another's dog was attacked by one.

Research from the University of Brighton suggested there were 150,000 foxes living in towns and cities across the UK.

Attempted culls have proved unsuccessful and fox control was abandoned in the 1980s.

A spokesperson for Ipswich Borough Council said: "Foxes are classed as wild animals, not pests, and the council has no statutory powers or legal rights to eradicate foxes on private or other land."

The council referred people affected by foxes to its website, which included advice on how to ease fox problems, such as ensuring bins are secure and using non-toxic animal repellents.

The Suffolk Wildlife Trust said when our habitats collided with wild animals, we had to learn to live alongside them.

"It seems that the foxes are protected, but we're not," said Ms Kenny.