CALLS have been made to cull wild deer living in a Leigh woodland due to the damage they have caused.

Stephen Aylen, who represents the Belfairs ward on Southend Council, wants a cull of muntjac deer at Belfairs Woods following widespread damage to tree bark in the nature reserve.

Muntjac originate from China, being introduced to England in 1900, and are considered an invasive species by many conservationists due to their prolific mating and destructive effect on other wildlife.

They have been in Belfairs woods since the Eighties.

- Do you think the deer should be culled? Vote in our poll below.