Dormouse disturbed.

I've even planted a hazel coppice to try and encourage them but to be honest, I don't even know whether their range comes anywhere near us.

Welcome John  

Were they really dormice John, they are a protected species and you have to have a licence to handle them.  Did they have furry tails like this:

Checking your picture and conferring with the wife, who was with me me at the time, it seems they were not Dormice. They did not have furry tails like that. Field mice perhaps? Thanks for all the comments. We have been back  today for a spot of tidying up and put things into the compost bin very carefully. I will get around to introducing myself properly soon.