Campaigners are raising fears about badgers after pictures appear to show they have returned to land destined for a new seaside development.

A modern leisure centre, hotel, 150 homes and open green spaces are planned for empty land at Princes Parade in Hythe, in a project put forward by the district council.

The divisive scheme was approved in 2019 and work started two years later, although this has now been paused following a rise in costs.

As part of the development, a new artificial badger sett was created - still on Princes Parade but to the west of the site in 2021 -, as the existing one needed to be removed to make way for construction.

At the time, more than 100 objections were submitted to Folkestone and Hythe District Council, with one protester calling the proposal ‘wrong’, adding land at the new location was closer to the road, which they feared would lead to badger deaths.

The original sett was destroyed after the badgers had successfully moved to the new one.

However, those who object to the project - opposite Hythe seafront - claim new pictures show creatures, including a cub, have returned to land close to where their original sett once was.

Chris Farrell, who lives in Hythe and has long-fought the project, said: "The badgers have returned to Princes Parade even though the council moved them to the new set.

"They are in denial about them returning.

"The council flails the site from spring until autumn and they can’t do that if the badgers are there."

District councillor and Mayor of Hythe, Jim Martin (Green), says he has seen badger tracks on the land.

He said: "I live opposite Princes Parade and the badger activity in my garden has increased. You can see badger tracks all over the site.

"The photos sent to me were just confirmation of what I already knew."

Cllr Martin posted the images on Facebook page Friends of Princes Parade, which prompted concerned comments from residents.

His post said: "These photos of badgers turned up in my inbox. Apparently they show badgers in and around their original sett on Prince's Parade?"

One commenter said: "I frequently see badger ‘scrape’ marks along the footpaths around Princes Parade on both sides of the canal...it’s clear to me that they are still very active!"

Another added: "Not surprising they would migrate back. Please god will Princes Parade be cancelled come May."

FHDC says the artificial setts created in 2021 were successful.

A spokesman said: "We created a new artificial sett to provide a home for the badgers living on the Princes Parade site - and ensure an area suitable for living, resting and breeding was maintained on the land.

"The Princes Parade scheme is due to progress once market conditions are more favourable.

"All outstanding pre-commencement planning conditions will be satisfied and some material works carried out to ensure the permission is implemented."

FHDC is now considering selling the land at Princes Parade to an as-yet unnamed developer after the project's cost almost doubled.