A mum has been left devastated after her three-year-old dog was savaged by a fox overnight.

Kimmie D'Almeida of The Woodfields, Sanderstead, was woken by one of her dog's incessant barking outside at 4am today.

When her husband Martin went outside to investigate, he saw a fox walking along the fence with the family's three-year-old Yorkshire Terrier, Teddy in his mouth.

Mrs D'Almeida, 48, said: "We have a cat flap so the dogs can go in and out for the toilet during the night. My husband got up to go outside to stop Yogi barking because of the neighbours and he couldn't believe it.

"He called me and said a fox was standing on the fence with Teddy in his mouth as if he was going to go over with him. He ran over and he dropped him.

"We have chickens and rabbits in our garden and in the last 11 years we have lost two rabbits and two chickens which you kind of accept, but when it is your dog, your pet it is not acceptable."

Fighting tears, Mrs D'Almeida added: "We have had Teddy since he was seven or eight weeks old, my husband got him for me on my birthday.

"I know you shouldn't have favourites but Teddy was such a happy little boy, everyone loved him.

"My daughter is so upset she hasn't gone to school and my husband was absolutely devastated."

Mrs D'Almeida also has two other dogs, a four-year-old Chihuahua and a pomeranian cross.

Now she has demanded someone take responsibility for managing the rising numbers of wild foxes and the housewife said she blamed the council for the rise.

She said: "It needs to stop, we need to start culling some of these foxes. They are so brave and when it gets to the point your own dog isn't safe in it's own garden, what is it coming to.

"We have got to do something, if it is not down to the council, who is it down to? I do blame the council, many more foxes are going through overloaded bins because of the fortnightly collections.

"If it was down to me I would get an air rifle and cull them all."

A Croydon Council spokesman said: "In common with many other London boroughs, we have adopted the London Fox Code, published by the London Wild Life Trust.

"This states that foxes are a desirable part of London's wild life heritage and control is unnecessary.

"Control will only be undertaken in exceptional circumstances. Nuisance from foxes can be mitigated by using humane control methods."

What do you think? Do you agree the time has come for foxes to be culled? Leave a comment below or email newsdesk@croydonguardian.co.uk.