FOUR-legged vandals are tearing up lawns and flower beds at a record rate in North Lincolnshire, experts have warned.

Invading moles are wrecking gardens and grass verges at an alarming rate, leading to increased calls to pest control experts from angry gardeners.

Les Robinson, of Countryside Pest Control Services in Broughton, said: "Anyone driving around the countryside cannot fail to have noticed the large number of mole hills and, while I wouldn't describe this as a population explosion, it is clear that moles are thriving very well indeed across North Lincolnshire."

His business partner and wife, Catherine Robinson, said: "We have definitely experienced a big increase in mole-related calls both in relation to trapping and people requiring advice."

The unpopular pests cause damage to gardens by digging tunnels and creating molehills which damage the turf, say experts.

And the increase could be down to the 2001 foot and mouth crisis when the nation's mole population was left uncontrolled due to the restrictions put in place.

Mr Robinson said: "This, of course, has had a knock-on effect around the country, with moles spreading onto roadside verges, sports fields and gardens." Another reason for the increase is the weather, as wet weather increases the amount of worms which moles feed on, according to North Lincolnshire's award-winning gardening expert John Cavill.

He said: "There are more mole hills at roundabouts and across the area than I have ever seen before and it takes some doing getting rid of them."

In a recent article for the Scunthorpe Telegraph he said: "In this country there is no law against killing moles.

"I guess this is because there are so many of them."

But he added: "For me, killing is not an option. I want to preserve them as I do all wildlife."

There are a number of different solutions to help control mole populations.

Mr Robinson said his method of choice is trapping and claims non-lethal deterrents, such as Jeyes fluid, do not work.

He said: "A mole will not abandon its tunnel system because of an objectionable smell.

"It will simply close off the offending area with soil and dig more tunnels, so you actually end up with more mole hills."

He added: "There is no ultimate solution to the problem of mole infestations and, while being time-consuming and labour-intensive, traditional trapping remains the best option."