by Danny Boyle

dboyle@thekmgroup.co.uk

White lines have been painted over a fox as it lay dead in a village.

Workers sprayed over the cub's legs as they marked a resurfaced road in St Mary Hoo.

The Medway Council contractors apparently failed to spot the dead animal as they painted lines with a lorry on the Ratcliffe Highway.

Gaps made by the fox's legs were only filled in and remains of the animal's fur removed after the council was alerted by the Medway Messenger.

The horrific sight was discovered by former lorry driver Roy Gladdish as he went shopping with his wife.

The 66-year-old said: "We couldn't believe our eyes when we drove past. We were so gobsmacked we had to go round the roundabout and come back.

"I can't believe how a human being could do something so despicable to an animal. It's just atrocious behaviour.

"It sounds like a comedy sketch, but sadly it was for real. The fox might have been dead, but it still deserved some respect."

The road was closed on Saturday while white lines were painted after the road had been resurfaced.

The painted fox was discovered by Mr Gladdish and his wife Carol, 58, on Sunday morning near the Fenn Bell pub.

They wore carrier bags on their hands to lift the animal over an embankment away from the road.

Mr Gladdish, of Avery Way, Allhallows, said: "It was a pretty distressing thing for us to have to do, but we couldn't just leave it lying there."

Hairs from the fox were still visible at the roadside on Tuesday, as were gaps in the line made by its legs.

Medway Council officers visited the scene as soon as we alerted them, but the fox had disappeared. The line was repainted on Wednesday.

A council spokesman said: "This was an unfortunate incident that occurred while private contractors employed by the council were carrying out road marking work.

"The contractors are responsible for ensuring the road surface is clear before lining takes place, however that did not happen in this case.

"We have been in touch with our contractors and the lines have now been repainted at no extra cost."