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  Moles invade school footie pitch
Updated 03 March 2004, 19.24
Moles are seen as a pain by most gardeners
Moles have launched a pitch invasion on a school playing field in Cornwall.

Hundreds of mole hills have appeared on the footie pitch of Sandy Hill Primary School, making life difficult for the school's football team.

The little mountains of earth mean the team members can't pass the ball to each other easily, and could trip if they run on collapsed mole tunnels.

At the moment matches are played away, but the school is looking to experts for help on how to move the moles on.

'Good for corners'

But getting rid of the moles won't be easy and the school doesn't want them killed.

Sandy Hill pupil Sophie, 11
Sophie, 11
Sandy Hill pupils told Newsround they didn't want the moles to be hurt.

"They should be moved away but I don't really want them to be injured, just gone," said Sophie, 11.

Although pupils want their pitch back from the moles, there are some benefits.

"The mole hills make it harder for dribbling, passing and shooting but they're good for corners because you can get more height on the ball," said James, 10.

What do you think should happen to the moles?

I think you should leave the moles alone and have the pitch move instead. After a while the moles will evacuate and the pitch will have their playing field back.
Hannah, 13, Brandon

I think they should be taken to a safe place in the wild somewhere. They shouldn't be hurt.
Sheri, 10, Australia

Capture it harmlessly. To do this you'll need a little patience, and a hose. Attach the hose to a water supply but don't turn it on. Approach the mole hill silently, when the earth moves immediately thrust the hose into the hill and turn it on. The mole can swim but doesn't like wet feet, so it will come to the surface, then immediately sack it and relocate it before it has a chance to swiftly dig down again or bite you.
Sam, 14, Halifax

I don't think that the moles should move, I think the footie pitch should, as the moles have made their home there, where as for the children it's only for footie.
Rosie, 13, York

I think they should just poison them, they'll go quicker.
Craig, 14, Dundee

I think that the moles should be moved to a safer place without being hurt.
Paul, 13, Strood

If the moles can't be moved to another part of the playing field, why can't the pitch be moved instead?
Gemma, 8, Braintree

I think you should get a tube going up and wait for them or it to climb up it and make it close trapping it and putting it somewhere back in the wild.
Adam, 13, Middlesbrough

Stick little plastic windmills in the ground the moles will not like the vibration and will go away.
Josephine, 9, Bridport

I think you should get a mole detector which buzzes when a mole's around and frightens it away.
Laura, 11, Peterborough

Use ultrasonic sounds in their tunnels to frighten the moles without harming them
Alex, 9, Nuneaton



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