Animal lovers say they are horrified that three badgers have been found cruelly snared in the Petham area in the last month.

Members of the East Kent Badger Group are investigating the incidents and believe the same offender may be responsible.

Justin and Jean Piper from the group, of Tillard Close, Petham, were out walking their dogs near the grounds of Petham House when they found a young female trapped in a wire snare.

Justin, a landscape gardener, said: “It was clearly exhausted through struggling and stress but still had some fight left in her.

“With the help of farmer Andrew Jackman, we managed to cut her free and put her in a secure cage to check her over for injuries.

“Apart from the stress and some bruising she seemed OK so we let her free near her sett where we think she may have had cubs.”

He added: “It’s appalling that someone is doing this and very upsetting to see. I’d like to put a wire around the neck of who ever is doing it and see how they feel.”

Group chairman Martin Newcombe said snaring badgers was illegal and the RSPCA had been informed of the problem.

He added: “We think the same individual is responsible because the same kind of method is being used.

“On the previous two occasions recently when badgers were found snared, one was successfully released but the other died.

It is very cruel and stressful for the animals and I have no idea what the motivation is.”