I can't buy less than 5 litres of paraffin anywhere ( if you can, please tell me where to get 1 litre), so I won't be doing that. But don't feed the mice, catch the little blighters - I caught 8 altogether and the damage appears to have now ceased. Although we still leave traps just in case.

Broad beans at least you can sow in pots and plant out when bigger. For the peas I'm wondering if a layer of fleece weighted down with soil all round would stop them?

If you plant them in pots or guttering and get them to about 3 - 4" tall the mice won't eat them. Having said that you would have to keep them off the ground so the critters can't get at them.

how do you feel about cats?

a jack russels a much better idea . are you sure its mice ? it could be rats or something else . id trap them as mentioned . its the only real way of getting rid of them . there killed very humainly as poison just isn't very nice for lots of reasens .