I WONDER if any other readers have seen dead hedgehogs recently which have not been road casualties?

I have been feeding hedgehogs with specially prepared food on the patio outside my kitchen window for several years and there have been two or three coming regularly to feed.

However, a few weeks ago I came across a dead hedgehog on the field behind my home. There was no obvious cause of death and after a few days a hedgehog was again feeding but as I only saw the one on any night following I presumed that the corpse was, sadly, one of my visitors.

Today another dead hedgehog has been found in my next door neighbour's garden and as the food I put out has not been being taken for a few nights, I can only presume that this is again one of my prickly visitors.

I am greatly saddened by this and wonder if there is some disease which is attacking these enchanting creatures?

My neighbour assures me that it is unlikely to be slug pellets as her gardening club members have assured her that today's pellets are harmless to hedgehogs, although I still feel that when hedgehogs eat a poisoned slug they too are affected. Who is right?

EILEEN EASTHAM (Mrs), Milton Close, Darwen.