THEY'VE tried guns, they've tried gassing and they've tried ferrets - but so far a council and a football club have failed to overcome their rabbit problem.

New Milton Town Council is not giving up, however.

It has now decided to install a £750 fence to stop the bunnies from getting on to its sports ground at Fawcetts Field.

When they get there, they burrow down into the ground used by Lymington and New Milton Football Club, and cause chaos.

"It has been a niggling problem for some time, but it has got worse in the last few years," said town clerk Dick Waterman.

He recalled that an effort had been made to gas the rabbits, but had proved unsuccessful, although pest control specialists were continuing to try to keep their numbers down with the aid of guns and ferrets.

One of the problems, Mr Waterman explained, was that adjoining land was not being used and that enabled the rabbits to flourish and increase their numbers.

He added that one of the crucial times is the end of the season when ground maintenance takes place.

"They love that because it softens the surface and they can get in there and dig," he said.