A Swanley fox who was nursed by an animal sanctuary and released into the wild has turned its back on life as a lone wolf to live with a community of cats.

The scrawny pup was found in a sorry state at Dawn to Dusk Day Nursery in St Mary's Road in late February when staff realised her mother was refusing to feed her.

Second Chance Animal Rescue (SCAR) took in the young foxcub and bottle-fed her until she was strong enough to be slowly released back into the wild.

But Vixey, as she had been christened, bounded back bright-eyed and bushy tailed a few weeks later to get some grub - and make herself a new home under a caravan.

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And the yard cats appear to have accepted their adopted pal.

John Ranger, 40, who runs the centre, says they've only rescued five or six foxes over the six years - and Vixey is the first to join the family.

After nursing her back to health, they did what is known as a soft release, which involves putting her in a covered cage and not letting her see who is feeding her to wean her off the dependency she has developed.

She was then released back into the wild - but she seems to have decided it doesn't suit her.

He said: "The mum didn't have any interest at all in her.

"It's very unusal for a fox to feel so comfortable with the cats.

"They all eat out of the same bowls and the cat's aren't nervous at all.

"She's still a wild animal - she just comes back for dinner."

Cheryl Ede, from Greenhithe, volunteers at Second Chance Animal Rescue on Crockenhill Road every Sunday.

She said: "She now seems to think she's one of the many yard cats - cats that have been rescued but never been able to be re-homed so they are let out to live at and are fed by the rescue.

"They have named her Vixey, she lives under the caravan in one of the pictures and she is very shy, but comes out and eats with the yard cats - sometimes to their annoyance."

To find out more about Second Chance Animal Rescue, click here.