Badgers burrowing at a Thundersley graveyard are leaving a trail of unearthed bones and coffin parts.

Yet Castle Point Council is almost powerless to stop them and can only take limited action as the animals are a protected species.

The nocturnal creatures are tunnelling their way under St Peter's Church graveyard in Church Road, Veronica Mepham, who runs Benfleet Rescuers' Wildlife Sanctuary, said: "We're always having to fill in holes and put old, unearthed bones back."

Published Wednesday August 11, 2004

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