BOLTON people are being urged to keep their eyes peeled for foxes.

Foxwatch 97 is being co-ordinated by Manchester Metropolitan University and has been prompted by numerous sightings of foxes in Manchester City Centre.

Recent sightings of foxes have been made in Hulme, the UMIST car park and in Piccadilly.

The reason for the movement is not entirely known, but could be down to the abundance of high calorie fast food waste and ideal denning sites in abandoned or derelict buildings.

Now environmentalists at the University are asking for the public's help to report any sightings to the Foxwatch Survey. The information gathered will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the numbers and distribution of foxes in the Manchester and Bolton areas.

The survey began at Easter and will carry on throughout the summer and into the autumn.

At the beginning of April vixens in particular tend to be very visible, as they spend more time hunting to feed themselves and their young cubs.

As summer arrives the cubs themselves will begin to spend more time above ground. Anyone wishing to contribute to this year's Foxwatch can write to; Foxwatch, Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences, John Dalton Building, Chester Street, Manchester, M1 5GD.

Reports in the Bolton area can be addressed to the Natural History section of Bolton Museum.

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