SEASIDE fox Freddy has not exactly wormed his way into the affections of Felixstowe's beach anglers today.For the friendly creature, who has made his home on the resort's seafront, has turned a bit naughty and has found some easy pickings for his dinner - pinching fishermen's bait from under their noses.

SEASIDE fox Freddy has not exactly wormed his way into the affections of Felixstowe's beach anglers today.

For the friendly creature, who has made his home on the resort's seafront, has turned a bit naughty and has found some easy pickings for his dinner - pinching fishermen's bait from under their noses.

Ragworms, lugworms and squid have gone missing - and some fishermen have seen Freddy, as he has been christened by residents, scurrying away with his stolen meal.

Foxes have a reputation for being somewhat sneaky, a little bit clever and very resourceful, and this is one animal who has no intention of going hungry.

Fishermen say he is watching them as they carry out their hobby on the shingle and sand near the Spa Pavilion.

He is hiding on the beach, or close by, watching the anglers sort out their bait and line it up on paper on the edge of the prom, particularly eyeing up the strips of squid.

While they then go closer to the water's edge to cast their lines into the sea to try to catch some big fish, Freddy nips out and makes a juicy catch of his own, stealing the bait they have set out for their next attempts.

One fishermen said: “He's a bit cheeky and has obviously been watching us.

“We are about 30 yards down the beach and he is very quick - by the time we see him he is away and gone with the squid or worms.”

The fox first came to light just before Christmas when he surprised customers and staff at Bar 129 by wandering in searching for scraps under tables.

He then appeared across the road at The Alex, where he appeared perfectly tame, not bothered by the presence of people, and fascinated everyone with his antics - except general manager Greig Barnes, whose finger he bit when he tried to feed Freddy sausages.

The restaurant has been a little concerned because it serves food and has put up a poster urging customers not to let him on the tables or inside and to shoo him away if necessary.

Have you known a fox - or any wild animal - to be so friendly? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk

FASTFACTS: Meal time for Freddy

Foxes are opportunist feeders - and will get what they can, where they can, when they can.

They eat insects, earthworms, fruit, berries, wild birds, small mammals and scraps left by humans.

Squid would be quite a tasty delicacy for a fox.

Ragworms, found in estuaries and muddy shorelines, and lugworms, said to be the anglers' most popular bait, are used by sea fishermen to catch a wide variety of fish.