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A London council has advised residents troubled by urban foxes raiding bins to shoot them.

Wandsworth Council issued the guidelines on fox control which also include baited traps, snaring, shooting and starving the animals by only putting food waste outside on collection days.

In a statement outlining the advice, the Tory-run council insists it is not promoting a cull but offering guidance about legal techniques for keeping down numbers.

It said: “Shooting is not usually appropriate in urban areas, but where it is carried out, care must be taken to ensure the safety of the public and other wildlife.”

The guidelines were first published two years ago but were re-issued by the south London council following a campaign on Facebook for new wheelie bins.

Within hours of the press release being published on the council’s website it was taken down.