Council sets out to count prickly hogs

HEDGEHOGS get prickly at the mere suggestion of a census.

First comes the ordeal of unfurling themselves only to crawl out from their cozy hideouts. After a slow shuffle they plonk down and pull themselves into a ball. Then it is time to sit, and wait, and — splat.

A car speeds off and the remains of the little hedgehog are left to be recorded on the road kill census currently underway in Clare.