Badgers which have invaded Wyke Regis Cemetery are likely to burrow into Weymouth Town Council’s bank balance.

The protected animals could cost many thousands of pounds to move – at worst they may need to have a new sett built for them if they cannot be either encouraged out of the graveyard or found a suitable new site to go to.

It is believed the unwelcome invasion of badgers at the cemetery in Wyke Road have come from nearby Curtis Fields at Lanehouse, where the next phase of the town’s largest current housing development is underway.

Up to 50 tunnels have already been identified in the cemetery, many next to graves, with a study about to get underway to map the extent of the creatures in the area.

Expert advice has also been sought from Natural England and Dr Annabel King, ecologist at Dorset Council with Alder Ecology taken on to survey the setts and advise on options for the council.

They will be working with an ecologist who mapped badgers at Curtis Fields.

Council parks and open spaces manager Tara Williams has warned town councillors that there is not likely to be a quick fix: “This is something we could be dealing with for a long time,” she said.

“At worst, it could be longer than just a few months.”

The situation is unusual – although there has been a similar badger invasion of a graveyard in Swanage.

Badgers and their setts are legally protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and because of that work to exclude them from any area can only be only done under special licence from Natural England.

Even if approved they can only be moved during the period of July 1 to November 30.

Between December and June badgers have dependent young below ground and there would be a risk of harm or cruelty if work was done during that time.

“At the moment our immediate concern is that

people visiting the cemetery do not fall into one of the holes

and we have posted notices and marked out where we have found the burrows with stakes and notices,” said Ms Williams,.

“We will then have to wait for the ecologist’s report and advice before taking the next steps.”

The presence of the

badgers may also have an effect

on proposals to acquire another five acres of land for an extension to the cemetery.

Land currently being

looked at is owned by Wessex Water who over the last year have given a verbal confirmation that it will consider disposal to the council.

The site, next to Wyke cemetery, is used for grazing and will need to be surveyed for suitability for burial.