A HAMPSHIRE firm is under investigation for allegedly bulldozing a badger sett.

Bosses at The Perbury Group, based in Chandler's Ford, could face heavy fines and even imprisonment after the destruction of the sett behind The Otter pub in Otterbourne.

Officers from Hampshire police's wildlife protection unit were called in after the sett was flattened.

A spokesman for the police confirmed that both the company, its managing director, a land-scaping firm from Romsey and contractors hired by them are being reported for summons.

The allegation is that the landscapers deliberately or without due care bulldozed over the top of the sett some time in the past month.

Luckily the badgers are still there, with members of a local badger group reporting four of them near the entrance only a few days ago.

Badgers, Britain's biggest carnivores, are highly protected and interfering with them can result in heavy fines or even imprisonment.

The protection comes from the 1992 Badger Act which made it an offence to destroy, damage or obstruct access to a badger sett, disturb a badger in its sett or cause a dog to enter a sett.

A spokesman for the North Hampshire Badger Group said: "If the company has damaged this sett, either deliberately or through negligence, then this is outrageous.

"Badgers are protected in Britain and it is extremely important to ensure their setts, which families can often live in for decades if not centuries, remain untouched.

"I'm pleased the police are taking a strong line on this and that it serves as a warning to other companies and individuals not to interfere with these animals."

A spokesman for police said that, if convicted, those involved could be looking at fines of between £5,000 and £10,000 with even the possibility of imprisonment.

He added: "I can confirm that a Chandler's Ford based property development company and their managing director have been reported for summons on the charge of disturbing and interfering with a badger sett.

"A landscaping firm from Romsey along with another contractor that works for them have also been reported for the same offence.

"At the moment the case is with the Crown Prosecution Service, but I'm confident they will go ahead with a prosecution.

"Hampshire Constabulary is dedicated to the detection and prevention of wildlife crime, as well as being involved in the education of people to stop these offences being committed."

Neither The Perbury Group, nor their managing director Barry Permain would comment.