I've been dumping my vacuum cleaner fluff into my beds and that works for me. I have all kinds of critters out there.

Thanks Bathgate, I'll certainly give this a try as products I've been looking at online get very mixed reviews. I know they get startled by noise so I was also thinking of stringing up some milk bottle tops or the like which might put them off.

From what I understand, the scent of humans & predators repel them. Works even better if you have a dog/cat.

You might try firmly fixing a cap of chicken wire over the containers.

Thanks again Bathgate and now Steragram. I have read that human urine deters them! I am wondering about some perfume. I have for the moment put a mesh shelf over them for the moment but am trying to figure out a way of stabilising it.

With chicken wire youcan fold it down over the sides of the containers