RESIDENTS in Stifford Clays have discovered attempts by someone to kill foxes by poisoning, but fear dogs or even children could also be endangered.

A number or parcels of sausage meat, which is wrapped around a toxic substance, have been found in the Connaught Avenue area - and one fox has already been discovered dead, apparently from ingesting the poison.

A concerned Thurrock mum, Heidi, whose parents live on Connaught Avenue, with their dog Stanley, says the discovery is frightening - and she fears for the safety of the pet. And also that children could pick up and handle the toxins.

Heidi says: "It appears someone in the area is poisoning foxes with sausages stuffed with poison and wrapped together with cotton.

"This is a criminal offence.

"Not only is it slow and painful death for the fox, but my parents dog Stanley has also been poisoned twice.

"The foxes appear to be burying the sausages to eat later but dogs are digging them up.

"The police are aware and a report has been filed but we want to warn as many people as possible to be alert.

"To the people doing this, all I can say is you have put my parents' dog through a lot of pain and my children play in the garden where these things were found, so thank your lucky stars it wasn't a child that found them!"