Bexley council have announced plans to revamp Danson lake in a bid to keep 'super foxes' away.

In July last year, News Shopper reported that the foxes had been shot dead after they burrowed through the thick dam wall in Danson Park - putting 80 homes at risk of flooding.

Now, council bosses have revealed plans to remove shrubbery from the sloping banks, making it less attractive to wildlife.

News Shopper:

Danson Lake

Pest controllers exterminated 14 foxes last summer following an emergency call out by Bexley Council.

A council spokesman said: "The planned work includes measures to make sure that the area will no longer be attractive to foxes, which regrettably had to be culled last summer when their burrowing and damage to the dam reached unacceptable levels.

"Over the last few years the downstream slope of the dam has suffered erosion due to a combination of weather and animal burrowing. The planned work will eventually remove shrubbery currently covering the slope, making it less attractive to foxes and rats."

News Shopper:

Councillor Don Massey, Bexley’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Public Realm added: "The last two years have seen the erosion of the dam accelerate due to fox burrowing and extreme rainfall.

"Our current approach has been taken following expert advice on how to best preserve and strengthen the dam for public safety – without the further need to intervene with the fox population."

Initial coppicing work started on the dam on today (February 23) and is due to be finished by Friday (February 27).

The final design for the dam’s improvement work is still being drawn up.

The walkway over the dam will be closed to the public for safety reasons while the work is in progress. Alternative routes will be signposted.