MARAUDING badgers are devastating a quiet Swindon cul-de-sac, threatening to cause subsidence to houses and an electrical substation.

The shy creatures were tempted to explore away from Lawn woods by a good-intentioned resident who fed them dog food and peanut butter.

But now they have created a maze of tunnels all along one side of Greywethers Avenue, leaving holes everywhere and enraging residents.

The electrical substation that serves the whole area is under the greatest threat and is now inspected weekly by a dangerous structures officer from Swindon Council.

The problem has become so serious that officials from the Government's Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are stepping in to deal with it.

They are visiting the town on Friday to meet residents, council officers, councillors and South Swindon MP Julia Drown to discuss how to stop the roaming mammals taking over the street.

Ms Drown said: "I am aware of the concerns of local residents, and I'm pleased that we will be having a meeting to see what can be done to improve the situation.

"We need to find an answer which will take into account the problems caused by the animals, along with the conservation implications of dealing with them."

There could be an unusual solution using lion dung and bamboo wind chimes to drive the protected species away.

According to Lawn councillor, Fionuala Foley (Con), badgers are known to turn their noses up at the whiff of lion faeces and also have a dislike for bamboo wind chimes, male urine and dogs. She said a local badger expert informed her that Longleat Safari Park does a roaring trade in posting samples of lion dung out to people.

Coun Foley said: "They are burrowing underneath the houses because it's nice and dry there and a lot of people are concerned about the foundations of their houses.

"We have a badger problem in parts of Swindon that needs to be seen to. They aren't just harmless little creatures they can do a lot of damage to buildings and people really shouldn't be feeding them."

Longleat Safari Park's customer services manager, Scott Sims, confirmed that the park gathers lion dung and sells it at £10 per bag.

However, he said that while the dung is known to repel creatures such as deer and domestic cats, it is not known to deter badgers.

At least seven houses along the street are affected by the problem, although the tunnels appear to be spreading outwards.

Miriam Toomer, 65, and her husband John, 68, have built a special wall and fencing to stop the badgers getting into their garden.

Mrs Toomer said: "We moved here six years ago and didn't know anything about the badgers, but they have proved a very expensive problem.

"And the worst thing is that even if the tunnels undermine the foundations of the house, you are not covered by insurance because it is considered to be an act of God. The badgers have got more rights than we have."

Malcolm and Clare Toop-Rose live next door with their two children.

Mr Toop-Rose, 37, said: "When we first came here four years ago, we thought it was quite quaint to have badgers in the area, but it has all got a bit out of hand.

"They seem to be digging under all the back gardens along the street and it's a continual battle to try and work out how they are getting in.

"We are animal lovers but I think it would be best if they were relocated elsewhere."

John Short, director of Swindon Services the council's contracting arm said the council was powerless to deal with the badgers.

"They are a protected species, so the council is not allowed to touch them," he explained.