A horrified New Malden woman was set upon by a fox near her home last weekend, renewing calls to protect vulnerable people and small pets from attack.

The woman, who did not want to be named, claimed her leg was bitten by a deranged fox after stalking her and her husband as they walked elderly dog in South Lane, New Malden, on Sunday afternoon.

She said: “It came right up to us and approached the dog. I immediately picked up the dog and turned away from the fox. The fox followed me and bit the back of my leg.

“Fortunately, I had on a very old pair of flared jeans, so it just bit into the fabric. My husband had to hit the fox with a newspaper to get it to go away.”

The woman said the unruly fox was suffering from an “advanced case of fox mange” and that old cats or dogs could be vulnerable to attack.

But Kingston Council’s environmental health department does not currently provide a service to control foxes, in common with other local authorities.

The council’s website said: “Foxes are not a statutory pest and there is not a duty for councils to control them.”

Instead, the council advises worried residents to make their gardens unattractive to predatory foxes, by clearing away unnecessary clutter and purchasing fox repellent chemicals.

An RSPCA spokesman said: “It is possible to get mange from foxes but the risk is very low, as direct contact is the most likely source of infection.”

People with concerns about an animal’s welfare should call the RSPCA on 0300 1234999.

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