VILLAGERS are in uproar at their parish council’s plans to exterminate moles which they say amount to murder.

Merton Parish Council near Bicester have said the animals have been digging up playing fields, allotments, a children’s play area and woodland walks.

It is planning to lay mole traps around the village to kill them, and said three people had volunteered to put them out.

But villagers say the plan amounts to “murder” and the molehills are not causing anyone any problems.

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Jenny Green, 37, a freelance writer, said: “This is a complete over-reaction to a few molehills.

“Moles messing up a woodland path? How dare they exist in the woodland?

“Does the council have nothing better to tackle, like the fly tipping, dog poo at the playground and the litter discarded all along the aforementioned woodland walk?”

She said the worst damage was six hills on the edge of the playing fields, which were not in the way of people playing football.

And she warned that setting traps this time of year would catch mother moles, leaving their young to starve and die in their burrows.

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Villager Nikki Hamilton said: “We are horrified to hear that a delightful English village would consider murdering their mole population by setting traps.

“Surely baby moles will be underground at this time of year so isn’t killing the parents kind of barbaric?

“Maybe people should start remembering who lived here first.”

Ceri Thompson, 35, a fulltime- mum said: “I’m saddened my children are living in a village where wildlife is not respected, but rather casually murdered for no genuine purpose. No person has ever been injured by a mole or a molehill.”

Merton Parish Council announced the plans last week when it posted a letter through residents’ doors.

Parish councillor Ron Leaver wrote: “You will probably be aware that our playing field and woodland have been invaded by an unusual number of moles this year which are spoiling the playing field, allotments, children’s play area and the woodland walks.

“The parish council has decided that mole traps should be set over the next month or so in all these areas so please can you take great care not to injure yourselves and not to allow your dogs to interfere with the traps.”

He concluded: “We hope that you will understand that we must take this action to protect these facilities so we can all continue to use and enjoy them.”

The Oxford Mail was unable to contact Mr Leaver for a comment.