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Hundreds of London foxes will be culled in the new year as waste lines the streets of the capital following Christmas celebrations, a pest controller has said.

Tom Keightley, 59, who says he has shot and killed thousands of foxes over a career spanning 30 years, revealed demand for his services soars following the festive period.

He said excess waste lining London’s streets during the holidays leads to a spike in complaints from people wanting to be rid of the animals.

He said: “There will be bin liners overflowing and bursting open with leftovers which is heaven for foxes.

“They also prefer feather over fur, so chicken and turkeys will go down nicely”.

Approximately 10,000 foxes live in London, roughly a third of Britain’s total urban fox population. Mr Keightley says they are attracted to the waste from homes and takeaway restaurants.

The fox controller, who charges between £350 and £450 for a culling session plus £50 to £75 per fox killed, says customers commonly complain of foxes rummaging through their bins, keeping them up at night or destroying their gardens.

On average Mr Keightley gets two to three calls a week but in January he expects there to be more. He said his customers come from all walks of life but he is most often called out to Camden and St John’s Wood.

Controlled lethal culling of foxes is legal. Mr Keightley has a rifle licence and says he informs the police on the day of the cull to “avoid any embarrassment or misunderstanding.”

He disposes the bodies with permission on farmland in Sussex or by burning them. On average, he says he kills six foxes a session and the most he has killed in one session is 15.

Animal rights groups and critics of lethal culling confirmed the practice is legal but questioned its effectiveness.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA will always urge non-lethal methods of deterrent where possible as shooting foxes will simply encourage other foxes to move in from other areas and take their places.

She added: “There are restrictions on some of the methods that might be used to kill them but otherwise foxes do not have specific legal protection.

“Providing that the person has the appropriate firearms certification for the weapon used, is on land that they either own or have permission to be on and is not shooting so as to pose a safety hazard then there is no offence committed."

In advice on its website the borough of Kensington and Chelsea warned: “If you decide to employ someone to kill a fox on your property you will be responsible for the costs of killing and disposing of the animal (which can be considerable).

“Also, the territory of a culled fox will be quickly re-occupied by another fox.”