RESIDENTS are being urged to take care around badger habitats, after two sets were disturbed in the space of a fortnight.

Mark Rasbeary, wildlife and environmental crime officer at Natural England, said many people were not aware that disturbing badger setts is illegal and can result in a £5,000 fine, or even a six-month jail term.

He said that over the past fortnight, two incidents of sett interference had been discovered in the Catterick Garrison area, with several dead badger cubs found.

"We don't tend to see much trouble of this kind in North Yorkshire, so this is very worrying," he said. "Sometimes people might not be aware they are putting badgers in danger, but in these cases it looks like the setts have been deliberately disturbed, which is very serious indeed.

"The best advice we can give to people is to stay away from setts altogether, and just let badgers get on with it."

Anyone who has information about the incidents, or any other instances of badger sett disturbance, should contact North Yorkshire Police on 0845-6060-247 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.