A couple love to feed the foxes who visit them daily biscuits – and have even affectionately named them.

Pete Barrett, 50, and his wife, Lucy, 48, spot the beautiful animals every morning – curled up on their garden path.

When the couple open the door, the foxes sit three feet away but are eager to lap up the dog treats Pete gives them.

Pete has named the foxes Fred, Freddy and Freddie and says Fred – who has white tips on his ears – will even take a treat from his hand.

Freddy has black ear tips and will come within a few feet but is still scared to be handfed.

The pair only see Freddie - who they believe is a parent of the cubs - a few times a week and they will only get within 10ft.

Pete, a retired civil servant, from Hornchurch, Essex, said: "They turn up every morning."

"I look forward to it every day."

"It’s great fun but the dog hates them."

"I treat them to biscuits and named them Fred, Freddy and Freddie."

"They are very cheeky and very cute."

Pete and Lucy, a carer, have been visited by foxes for the last six years but have started feeding the cubs in the last year.

Pete said: "I think their den is nearby."

"They turn up about 6.30am and curl up and sleep on the path."

"When I open the door, they come and sit about 5ft away waiting."

"Fred looks like the youngest and will come up and take a treat from your hand if you sit still."

"Freddy will only come within about 3ft."

"I think it is two cubs and a parent and they hang around for half an hour or so each morning."

The cheeky foxes have even been caught trying to follow Pete on a dog walk with Labrador mix, Chloe, and even stole a loaf of bread and TV guide from his shopping bag.

Lucy loves the foxes visiting too and even took over feeding them when Pete was recovering from a broken leg.

Now retired due to health issues, Pete loves snapping the foxes posing at his back door.

He said: "They are very cute."