A feisty fox was today recovering in Benfleet as an animal lover called on motorists to watch out for wildlife on the roads.

The fox - who has been named Timmy by rescuers - was found unconscious and injured after being hit by a car while playing with a vixen at Langdon Road, Rayleigh.

Veronica Mepham, of the Rescuers Wildlife Sanctuary, Benfleet, said volunteers were now helping to nurse him back to health and that he was making good progress.

She added that dead animals lying in verges or on the road have become a common sight across south Essex in recent weeks.

Now Veronica is urging people to watch out where possible while out and about in their cars - especially as more foxes are roaming about at the moment.

She said: "This was a very sad story because the vixen kept running across to it and licking its face as it lay there unconscious.

"They have the same feelings of love as we do and the man who brought him in said it was quite distressing.

"He had to keep the vixen away because she was also in danger.

"He was very poorly and has needed a lot of hands-on treatment since he came in.

"At this time of year, the foxes are pairing off and breeding, and their courtship means they are a bit playful."

Bushy-tailed Timmy, described as a "handsome chap" by Veronica, is now conscious but still has inflammation of the brain.

Veronica, who runs the sanctuary in Watlington Road with her husband Rye, said Timmy was just one of many new arrivals who had been hit by unsuspecting drivers.

Caring - Veronica Mepham with the fox

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.