CONSERVATION group the Badger Trust has written to Defra giving notice that it intends to launch a legal challenge to the badger culls set to go ahead this year to tackle bovine TB.

The organisation said it responded in detail to both of the Government’s consultations and put forward viable alternatives to licensing farmers with cattle in TB hotspots to cull badgers.

Badger Trust chairman David Williams said: “However, our concerns that the culls proposed will actually spread the disease have not been heeded.

“In the light of this and our concerns over the legality of the decision, we would be failing in our duty to badgers if we did not pursue a legal challenge despite the difficulty and cost risks involved.

“If there is an opportunity to save thousands of healthy badgers, as there is here, we must take it on behalf of the many local badger groups and supporters on whose behalf the Badger Trust works. If successful it would also save farmers the expense of a policy which would not benefit them.”

Similar action taken by the trust against Welsh Assembly plans to cull badgers last year led to a suspension of the plans until a new scientific review is carried out.

It said it would issue a further statement on its plans once it has studied Defra’s response, which is expected by Friday.

The NFU, which backs the cull plans, said: “News that the Badger Trust has taken the first steps towards a legal challenge is not surprising.

“However, the NFU remains committed to supporting the Government’s TB eradication policy to tackle what is a terrible disease. We hope the process is swift and resolves any issues as soon as possible.”