A VERMIN expert from Tonbridge has stumped up a £1,000 reward to catch an East London gang who beat a fox to death with a cricket bat.

John Bryant, who specialises in humane ways of dealing with urban wildlife problems, said he wanted to expose the "masked Hackney idiots" who then posted a video of their sick stunt on the internet.

And Pembury-based charity The Fox Project is matching the cash offer to "nail" the culprits.

Mr Bryant said: "I'm offering up to £1,000 to get these people identified and in the hands of the police. They're wrong and shouldn't be out doing this."

The leader of the movie's makers Urban Fox Hunters justified the killing as a "public service".

He said: "We will not be intimidated by the crazies. We are performing a public service.

"I have kids and I don't want them being bitten by a diseased vermin scum."

He also said the fox killed did not suffer as it was drugged.

But Mr Bryant said the group has committed several criminal offences.

"Putting out drugs in food in a public park is certainly an offence, as is the terrorising and killing of wild animals in public places," he said from his Royal Avenue base.

"There's plenty of convictions they can face if they can be identified, and I'm sure they can be.

"I've never seen anything like this before. This group are using the attack of the two young girls in London as an excuse.

"One of them claims he's doing this to save children because he has them himself. I think social services should be made aware of him pretty quickly

"It's known that the abuse of children often follows abuse of animals.

"I don't feel safe that people who are capable of clubbing animals to death should be allowed around youngsters.

"From all points of view these people need to be exposed and brought to justice."

And that view was clearly echoed by The Fox Project, which has doubled the reward on offer with £1,000 of its own.

Director Trevor Williams said: "They're criminals and need to be caught. People like that are generally dangerous.

"The one who's boasting about his children needs looking at.

"Whatever way you look at it, it's cruelty to animals so they've got to be nailed."