Concerned Don Donaldson fears landscaping work being undertaken by Boyce Hill Golf Club in Benfleet is endangering the safety of badgers' setts in the area.

His Vicarage Hill home backs onto the club, which is in the process of uprooting upwards of 60 trees.

But Peter Keeble, club secretary, dismissed his concerns, pointing out the club had a licence from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to undertake the work.

Fears - Don Donaldson checks the setts on the golf course site Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL 7SF8K1

Mr Donaldson said: "They are doing everything legally. But morally it's not acceptable. They must have taken 60 per cent of the trees away."

He added: "We have been feeding those badgers and looking after them for the last 21 years, ever since we moved here."

Mr Keeble said: "We have a licence to work around the setts and a licence to remove the trees. The badger protection people have been to inspect the site and are happy with it going ahead."

Published Monday, March 4, 2002