Work on a major housing development could be halted after sightings of badgers.

For the last couple of weeks, residents of Hemming Way in Watford have been woken by the nocturnal creatures.

They said they only appeared since a set of bungalows were knocked down earlier this month.

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Patricia Chambers, who lives in the road, says badgers burrowed under her fence and left holes in her garden.

She said: “They’re noisy little things. I sent my son out one night to see what was going on and he spotted them by the fence – I don’t know who was more scared, him or the badgers.

“And then it happened again a couple of nights later. When I looked outside I could see a baby one in my garden.

“A couple of neighbours have spotted them too and found holes in their lawns and I just wonder what it means for the development.

“Badgers are protected animals. It would be horrible to think that this development has disturbed them.”

Badgers are protected animals and residents have questioned what effect this will have on the development of 32 new homes in the road.

The demolition of the bungalows, by Watford Housing Community Trust (WCHT), upset residents who said that it ruined a friendly community.

But the trust argued the homes were too small to meet modern standards.

Mrs Chambers, 61, also said the demolition had encouraged fly-tipping in the area. She said people have always dropped litter on the green near her house, but the development had made the problem worse.

READ MORE: Tenants fear Watford housing trust proposals to replace bungalows with development of 32 new homes

She said: “People drop rubbish there every day. Whether it’s a bath, sofa or mattress, there’s always something new on the green now.”

She also added that construction work in the road is meant to start after 8am. But recently a lorry arrived at 7.30am to collect a bulldozer.

Because of the size of the lorry, it was unable to exit Hemming Way, so the driver beeped the horn for twenty minutes until residents moved their cars.

WCHT said it is investigating the badger claims and has spoken to its contractor about the lorry incident.

It also added that it has dealt with any fly-tipping problems that have been reported.