Youngsters are appealing for help after a ravenous fox has threatened to destroy their hopes of taking part in the annual Ten Tors challenge – by 'eating' their tents.

The bold fox attacked the Dartmouth youngsters' campsite near Sheepstor in the dead of night while they were on a training expedition ... returning time and again even after it was chased off.

It chewed through virtually every guy rope on the youngsters' tents, ripped open two of the tents and then tore open rucksacks as it tried to find food.

The animal managed to gulp down one boy's entire provisions for the camping expedition and then got through the breakfasts of at least two other youngsters before it was chased off.

The fox ended up destroying two of the tents which are going to cost £250 each to replace, revealed youth worker Theresa Walker who is team manager in charge of training the Dartmouth Ten Tors teams.

'We chased it off but every time we got back into the tents it came back. We knew it was coming back but there was not a lot we could do about it except stay up all night and chase it off every time it came back,' said Theresa who is overseeing the training for three Dartmouth youth teams preparing to tape part in the Ten Tors trek across Dartmoor in May.

'It chewed through the guy ropes and got into three of the tents and stole food out of the rucksacks. It bit through two of the tents and ripped through the ground sheets completely destroying them.'

Theresa said that they had managed to re-attach new guy ropes to the tents but two were so badly damaged that they are ruined.

'We think it might have been an urban fox that had been caught and dumped out on the moors,' she added.

A total of 23 young people aged from 13 to 16 years were camping out on the moor in ten tents in February when the fox attacked.

One Dartmouth Sea Cadet team and two Devon Youth service teams are aiming to take part in this year's Ten Tors challenge and their entrance fees have already been paid with funding from Dartmouth county councillor Jonathan Hawkins.

Theresa and assistant team manager Matt Pink are already faced with finding money for sleeping bags and cooking equipment for the youngsters taking part.

Now they have to find two new tents which have to be of the required standard to pass inspection by the Ten Tors organisers.

Dartmouth youngsters have been taking part in the Ten Tors for the last three years following a long break when none from the town entered the gruelling challenge.

Theresa and Matt have only got two months to find the equipment before the Ten Tors challenge goes ahead over May 11, 12 and 13.

'We are hoping maybe a local business would like to contribute and help ensure that the kids can take part this year,' said Theresa.

Anyone who is willing to help can contact her on 07970 895928.