A nature charity’s conservation plan in Somerset has been hit by damage to fencing at a protected reserve.

Work by the Audubon Society at Somerset Long Bay nature reserve is now on hold because of the expensive damage.

The group has appealed for those responsible to own up and help cover the bill.

The charity said that a 20ft stretch of fence at the reserve had been destroyed just a month after the group had to fix another section.

Karen Border, secretary of the Audubon Society, said the damage was probably done after the fence snagged on the tailgate of a reversing truck.

She added that no one had admitted responsibility.

Ms Border said the damage, discovered last week, “came as a real blow”.

She added: “A contractor had just completed repairs to the beachside fencing, which cost us more than $3,000.

“We have a major problem with invasive plants within the reserve and the fencing repairs were preparatory to a new maintenance plan to put sheep in there to graze on them.”

She added: “That plan will now have to be put on hold until it is fixed again.

“We would like to appeal to whoever caused this damage to come forward and take responsibility. As a small charity run entirely by volunteers, an incident like this is no small matter.”

The 2.7 acre wildlife refuge which includes a small pond created from a former garbage dump, is on the west side of the Government-owned Somerset Long Bay.

It was first fenced off because of problems with people dumping trash into the pond.

The society is also joint owner, with the Bermuda National Trust, of the Buy Back Bermuda nature reserve to the east of the park, which is open to the public.