A leafy Hampshire village has resorted to desperate measures to protect itself from gangs of foxes.

Homeowners in Portchester are deploying spiked mats beneath their cars nightly, while others coat their brake cables with chilli powder or apply Vicks VapoRub as deterrents.

The animals have been causing extensive damage by gnawing through vehicle wiring and clambering across bonnets and windscreens, leaving scratches in their wake.

Some villagers have even experimented with garlic spray after discovering the creatures' aversion to the scent.

The problem has escalated dramatically in recent years, with locals reporting groups of foxes visible throughout residential areas even before nightfall.

Terry Stroud, a 48-year-old window cleaner, discovered his van had no functioning brakes while driving to work after foxes had destroyed his brake lines.

Mr Stroud said: "I was so lucky I could stop using the handbrake, especially at that time of the day.

"It's frightening when you can see that I could've run down a bunch of schoolchildren."

Foxes have been targeting residents in the Hampshire town

The incident cost him nearly £350 for brake repairs, fluid replacement and a new sensor, alongside lost earnings from missing work.

Annmarie Stallard, 33, faced similar expenses, having to replace her anti-lock braking system cables twice in a single month last year after fox attacks, with each repair costing hundreds of pounds.

Graham Le Blond from fox deterrence company Foxagon explained that vehicle manufacturers have switched from plastic coatings to animal fats on brake cables, leading foxes to mistake them as food.

He suggested fitting metal cable protectors over brake wiring as an effective solution.

Foxes have been targeting cables in the village

Jack Burton, a mechanic at Portchester Autos, confirmed handling "eight or nine" similar cases of foxes damaging vehicle undercarriages.

He added: “It’s a bit of a problem around here.”

Annmarie Stallard described her nightly routine: "I have to put the fox traps under every night.

"They are just prickle mats on a frame that push under my car tyres every night so that it's uncomfortable for them to sit on."

The issue has created divisions within the community, with one resident noting the topic has become "very spicy in Portchester."

They claimed: "There are a couple of fox nutters feeding them and encouraging them into the urban environment. These foxes then cause everyone else problems."

Beyond vehicle damage, the foxes have created broader havoc for residents.

Yvona Hamarova reported finding "diarrhoea piles right outside our front door, all over the drive, garden and my outdoor furniture," along with damaged plant pots, a chewed hot tub and missing dog toys.

She attempted deterring them with water but noted: "They are so used to people they will just stare at you."

Mr Le Blond, of Foxagon, added that his company now receives regular calls to sort issues with fox-eaten cables.

However, he said even some of their vans have been "targeted."