Urban foxes are sourcing more than a third of their diet from humans – raising concerns they could face health risks from processed foods.

Scientists at Nottingham Trent University analysed the whiskers of nearly 100 foxes to reveal that food sourced directly or indirectly from people made up 35% of city fox diets, compared with only 6% for their country cousins.

Foxes are omnivores that eat a range of foods from small mammals, birds, beetles, grubs and worms to fruit and carrion.