Eltham foxes are not to be messed with, as one woman found out on her way to work.

Denise Pearson was walking to work around 2.30pm on June 23 in Progress Estate when she spotted a fox across the road.

Denise said: “Being an animal lover I spoke to the fox, then it started to walk towards me. Next thing I know it ran and grabbed my right ankle.”

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Thankfully for Denise, help was nearby in the form of a friendly trucker and she was able to get away.

However her ordeal hadn’t ended there. She says the fox was still out to get her.

She said: “As I was talking to the man, the fox walked around a car door went to run at me again. The man ran to his truck and grabbed something and threw it at the fox.

COMMENT: Urban foxes are a pest and we must now take action to control them

“Fortunately I was wearing long trousers and acted quickly, the fox didn't have a tight grip so no skin was broken.

“Had it been a young child it could have been a different story.

“I'm not only shaken by the experience but concerned that if a fox can attack a person in broad daylight there is a likelihood it will attack a child.”

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Denise said that she called the RSPCA but that all they told her was that she shouldn’t approach the fox as it probably had young nearby.

A spokesperson from the RSPCA said: “We always recommend caution when dealing with wild animals and would not advise members of the public to attempt to interact with foxes unless they were in need of help.

“This is because such interactions can cause stress to wild animals, and because any animal either domestic, wild, dead or alive may be potentially hazardous.

“Obvious dangers include bites, scratches and general hygiene issues. Similarly, we would not advise anyone attempt to hand feed wild animals or attempt to make them tame.

“Even if a fox was in need, we would advise members of the public to keep a safe distance and call us.”