Fox is sole suspect as family are inundated with shoes

Elaine and William Hewitt have been “donated” dozens of items of footwear – including designer trainers, work boots and leather shoes – left as gifts by the animal.

As the collection has grown over the last two months, the couple, who have three children, have set up a shoe rack at their home in Hosforth, Leeds, to reunite the footwear with the original owners.

Mrs Hewitt, 40, said the fox has stole up to 40 shoes from her neighbours’ doorsteps and porches.

“It started a few months ago when a pair of Y-Fronts appeared on the lawn in the back garden,” she said. “It was quite alarming really, but then the next day there was a shoe left in the same place. I realised there was an animal bringing them and then on a daily basis we got a shoe delivered.”

The shoes, which are never damaged, are left overnight by the fox which has a den nearby.

Mrs Hewitt said: “We see the fox around a lot. I think she might bring them back as toys for her cubs.”

Despite advertising the miscellaneous shoes to neighbours, Mrs Hewitt and her husband still have a pile of footwear, as well as baseball gloves and underwear left by the fox.