Disappearing Beetroot seedlings

[Hermit]

I'm asking this for my mum, (aren't I a good boy); she lives in essex and her beetroot seedlings keep disappearing, as do her neighbours who normally rubs her nose in his beetroot success. Apparently, he asked at his local garden centre and the woman there didn't know but was having the same trouble. They all say they have adequate bird protection, which is the only likely culprit I have found from web browsing.

[WendyS]

If they arn't being withered up by drought, heat or lack or watering, it is probably slugs or snails which are eating them overnight. Some of mine have disappeared too . One day they were an inch high. By the following morning many of them had disappeared with only a few slimy trails as evidence. . I'm afraid using slug pellets may be one of the only solutions. Alternatively, if you live in a fairly rural area it could be mice nibbling away at them.

[Hermit]

All good ideas WendyS, thanks. With regard to the slugs, I've been having a fair bit of success lately with crushed eggshells that they apparently don't like crawling over. Seems to work best if you wash them and run your finger round to get out the lining, then leave to dry for a day; they crush up well that way. Have been putting my coffee grounds down too as they don't like caffeine. Bit worried about it seeping into the plants though, imagine getting a full on buzz from your lettuce.