Cars in peril as foxes get a thirst for brake fluid

Thirty people on the same street were stunned to discover that thirsty foxes had chewed through the brake cables of their cars.

When a resident on Spencer’s Road in Horsham, West Sussex, found their cable had been severed, they contacted the police thinking it was sabotage.

However, when it emerged that the same thing had happened to a number of other vehicles, they realised they were dealing with an altogether different culprit – foxes.

The damage to the cars cost £60,000 in total. The foxes like to drink brake fluid, which contains diethylene glycol, a sweet-tasting alcohol, experts said.

Graham Tomlinson, 38, has spent £4,500 on his Volvo after foxes three times chewed through his brake sensors.

He has had to wrap the underside of his car with a tarpaulin to stop the foxes getting underneath.

“The tarpaulin seems to be working but it is a bit of a pain having to wrap the car up every night,” he said.

One woman said she saw 36 foxes – including cubs – living in one garden.

Locals say that they have asked Horsham district council to help get rid of the foxes. But it said there was little it could do because they are not classed as vermin and as a wild animal are protected by acts of parliament.