RESIDENTS whose properties are being relentlessly damaged by badgers in Uphill have been told there is little they can do to stop them. North Somerset Council says apart from building stronger fences or simply admiring the black and white beasts, people l

RESIDENTS whose properties are being relentlessly damaged by badgers in Uphill have been told there is little they can do to stop them.North Somerset Council says apart from building stronger fences or simply admiring the black and white beasts, people living in the quiet area of Weston cannot do much to stop the creatures damaging their gardens.The badgers live in an artificial sett created in the grounds of Westhaven School in Ellesmere Road last year. The sett was created to try to contain the badgers and keep them away from the school - with varying degrees of success.Residents living near the school say their gardens are being persistently ravaged by the badgers, which also often break through fences to get to the gardens.Ken Creffield, of Thornbury Road, says he is not only concerned about damage to his and his neighbours' property but also fears for the safety of his two dogs, which he says could be attacked if they came face-to-face with a badger.A North Somerset Council spokesman said: "Our ecologist has had enquires from people in that area about how to deal with the badgers."The only advice we have though is to enjoy having them in your garden or if people want to protect their gardens they can build stronger fences, perhaps with deeper concrete bases."Badgers are protected under the 1992 Badgers Protection Act and are therefore animals which have freedom to roam.