Ananova:

British forces have been accused of releasing a plague of ferocious, man-eating badgers in the Iraqi city of Basra.

Word spread among locals that UK troops had introduced strange man-eating, bear-like beasts into the area to sow panic.

But several of the creatures, caught and killed by local farmers, have been identified by experts as honey badgers.

The rumours spread because the animals had appeared near the British base at Basra airport.

UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: "We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area."

Mushtaq Abdul-Mahdi, director of Basra's veterinary hospital, confirmed the animals were honey badgers.

"They are known locally as Al-Girta. Talk that this animal was brought by the British forces is incorrect and unscientific," he said.

It's believed the badgers have been driven towards the city by flooding in marshland north of Basra but the assurances have done little to convince some members of the public.

One housewife, Suad Hassan, 30, claimed she had been attacked by one of the badgers as she slept.

"My husband hurried to shoot it but it was as swift as a deer," she said. "It is the size of a dog but his head is like a monkey."