They're the furry invaders who rifle through bins, attack chicken coops and dig holes in your prized garden.

While being cute, foxes can be a pain for gardeners. The nocturnal animals will creep around in the dark and prowl your garden, driveway or even your bins looking for kitchen scraps to feed on. While they're generally harmless, and don't carry rabies like their American counterparts, foxes can still dig holes and cause a mess if they get into bins and spread rubbish around.

For gardeners who aren't keen on neighbourhood foxes straying into their space, it can be a constant battle to try to keep them out.

Some try using high pitched 'cat scarers' which seem to get less effective over time, others simply try chasing them away. But given they hunt at night, it can be difficult to get out and stop them.

Several retailers sell a cat repellent which its manufacturer says is a natural, non toxic solution - and it may also stop foxes.

The Doff STOP Cat and Dog Scatter granules cost £3.97 from Asda, £4 from Wickes, £3.99 from Wilko online and are also available at roughly the same price from a host of other retailers, and promise to repel and prevent cats or dogs from 'fouling' in your garden.

They also claim: "Helps reduce cat scratching and dog and cat soiling of the areas.

"Scatter the product to mask odours in the area. This product is also a good toilet training aid for your pet.

"It is known that cats and dogs return to previously fouled areas be it them fouling the areas or other dogs and cats, with this product they can be trained not to foul in the area treated.

"Doff Stop scatter granules release a strong highly perfumed odour that lasts over several days, the goal is to mask odours left by previous fouling so the animals do not recognise the area.

"Cats and dogs also find this smell repulsive. This safe and handy scatter bottle has natural scatter granules containing natural plant extracts, they quickly mask the odours but also release slowly a scent that cats and dogs do not like."

Foxes operate in a similar way: they will mark territory that they like, and use the smell as a flag to return to fertile hunting grounds (like your bins). 

Remove the smell with the granules and you'll stop them finding their way back.

The RSPCA says other options include planting shrubs closely together, with prickly plants or small pebbles that make it difficult for foxes.