Urban foxes quadruple in three years

The number of foxes in urban areas has quadrupled in the last three years, experts warned today.

Peter Crowden, the chairman of the National Pest Technicians Association, said private contractors across the country have experienced a surge in calls from householders.

He added the attack on the nine-month-old babies in Hackney had triggered even more call-outs.

New fortnightly bin collections, which lead to rubbish bags piled near houses, are being blamed.

Mr Crowden said: "We are getting a rise in urban areas because there is so much food freely available, so much waste food. We are a very dirty society, we are a very wasteful society, people are the problem."

He said his own company in Rutland had been asked to trap just under 100 foxes in the past year, compared with about 25 in 2007.

Meanwhile, the twins attacked in their cots on Saturday both remained in hospital today. Lola Koupparis is still at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel while her sister Isabella, who suffered more serious injuries, is recovering at Great Ormond Street.