AN ELTHAM family are in despair over how to stop a fox who has twice attacked their dogs, stalks them outside their home and has even tried to claw its way through the front door.

Stacey Mulford, 38, of Rancliffe Gardens, says the animal has been terrorising her two young miniature pincher dogs Dublin and Kingston.

Ms Mulford said she first became aware of the problem when it tried to get in through the front door.

She said: "It clawed the bottom of my door off trying to get in.

"When the fox was going for the door it sounded like it was being broken into."

In the past month, she says the animal has attacked both dogs in their back garden.

Ms Mulford said: "I was in the garden having a cup of tea and the two dogs ran to the end of the garden.

"One of them came back screaming. My other dog Dublin was fighting with the fox."

"We rescued him but he had puncture wounds on his back and abdomen."

There has since been anotherattack and the fox has even been following the family outside the front of their property.

Ms Mulford said: "I took them out the front and the fox chased us from the front of the garden to our front door.

"I was kicking the door saying 'let me in, the fox is out there'."

The family, who believe the animal may be attracted to their neighbours' chickens have spoken to Greenwich Council but it, like other local authorities, does not deal with foxes.

Ms Mulford said: "We don't know what to do. The stress has been unbelievable."

A spokesman for Greenwich Council said: “We appreciate the concern that urban foxes can cause and have published information and practical advice on the Royal Borough’s website at www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/foxes “