MYSTERY surrounds the whereabouts of hibernating hedgehogs after their home was destroyed by Canterbury City Council.

Clive Wilkins-Oppler, 40, and his partner Sue Belton, 31, built the hedgehog habitat in the garden of their block of flats on Artillery Street, Canterbury, three years ago.

The couple say that Canterbury City Council workers removed the structure last week because it was a fire hazard.

Mr Wilkins-Oppler says that although he didn't notify the council in writing of the habitat he had told them repeatedly of its existence. He says there were at least two of the endangered animals asleep inside at the time it was destroyed.

He said: "We're devastated. We nurtured them for three years and put in a lot of time and effort. We built a little house of twigs and bits of wood. It was an ideal habitat.

"I met three council workers a couple of years ago who said it would not be touched and I thought that would be enough. We had no prior warning. I'm astonished they've done this."

Canterbury City Council officials said they did not know about the habitat and have set up a meeting with Mr Wilkins-Oppler to discuss the issue.

Head of Housing Larissa Laing said: "The wood and other materials were removed because it was a fire hazard. Mr Wilkins-Oppler confirmed that he has never written to the council to advise us that there was a hedgehog habitat which needed protection, and he is also unable to advise us of the names of anyone he spoke to, informing us of it.

"We will be meeting him and our contractor Serco this week to discuss it further."

The whereabouts of the hedgehogs is now unknown, although fears that they were mistakenly taken to the landfill site while asleep inside the home have been ruled out.

A council contractor from Serco, who helped remove the hedgehog house and who did not wish to be named, said: "We would have noticed any hedgehogs amongst the debris. We have to be careful when it comes to wildlife."

Paul Sison, site manager at the tip, said any animals would have been noticed.

He said: "The vans are quite small so I'm sure someone would have noticed if there had been hedgehogs in the back."