A CATFORD man was driven potty after being attacked by a fox which burst in on him as he sat on the toilet.

Anthony Schofield claims he was quietly going about his business in the little boys’ room on July 1 when the mangy creature strutted in before mauling him, his partner and his pet cat.

The startled 49-year-old leapt up from the bog with his trousers around his ankles before pursuing the creature around the living room in a farcical fox chase.

Mr Schofield, who lives in Ringstead Road, said: "I didn’t even have time to wipe myself.

"I just had to chase after it. It was so quick.

"The fox had pushed its nose through the door. I jumped off the toilet.

"In the meantime it had run into the front room and got the cat.

"It had the cat round the neck. She was in shock, bleeding from her face.

"It locked itself onto my arm but still had the cat as well.

"It was unbelievable - the strength in the little thing.

"There was blood everywhere.

"It was like a struggle for my life."

His partner-of-10-years Tanny Chapple, 35, joined in the fight and had her finger gnashed at by the bushy-tailed beast which was battling all three victims at once.

The unemployed carpenter says he eventually managed to free himself from the animal’s jaws by hauling it outside - while it was still latched onto his arm.

He was treated at hospital for cuts and bruises while his 14-year-old rescue cat Jessie sustained facial injuries and is still too scared to enter the living room.

Mr Schofield added: "It was so frightening.

"It was like a wild animal.

"We were concerned for our neighbour’s baby next door.

"There are a lot of foxes around here - it was an utter surprise."

He says he underestimated the small fox’s strength but believes even his three-and-a-half-year-old Staffie Clementine - who was shut in the kitchen at the time - would have lost to the fearsome fighter.

The former Deptford Park Primary School pupil went on to say he later felt sorry for the creature's plight but is urging neighbours to be vigilant and keep back doors closed or cover them with netting.

He added: "At the time I wanted to kill the fox. But it must have been in real trouble, really hungry.

"It panicked - I don’t blame it for that."

Lewisham Council has advice on preventing fox problems including not feeding them, securing rubbish, and having concrete bases for sheds and garages.

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