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A Sussex woman has said she felt physically sick after being told by the council to remove a worm-infested fox from her lawn.

Ruth Brass, 79, went outside of her East Preston home in Angmering Lane at around 7am this morning (September 3), to find the body of a 3ft fox with a gaping wound in its chest.

She called the council to have it removed but was told that, as it was private land, she would have to put the fox in a bag and dispose of it herself.

The council officer, she said, suggested using a broom to shift the animal or recruiting a neighbour for assistance.

Ruth Brass, daughter Jess Brass and children Henry 7 and twins Milo and Pi aged 6, and Digby the dog. Photo by Derek Martin Photography

“I think it’s outrageous,” said Ruth, who is widowed.

“I said I am not moving it, it makes me feel sick. Even looking at it from a distance made me feel quite sick. They can’t expect me to touch it – they can’t expect that of anybody.

“A rabbit or a mouse would be hard enough, but a fox? Absolutely not. They said ‘ask a neighbour’, but I wouldn’t expect anybody to move that unless they are correctly clothed and protected. They even said ‘just use a broom’ to get it in the bag. I could have easily caught something.”

Ruth said after much arguing with the council, including the threat of legal action, they relented and a waste disposal truck arrived by around 10am.

Council tells Sussex woman to remove worm-infested fox from garden: ‘Just use a broom’