Badger culling order quashed

The controversial order to cull badgers in Wales was quashed by the Court of Appeal today.

The Badger Trust appealed after a High Court judge upheld the Welsh Assembly Government's plans to trap and shoot badgers in west Wales.

It was among measures, including stricter controls on cattle, intended to eradicate bovine tuberculosis from north Pembrokeshire and parts of Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

Lord Justice Pill said the Welsh Assembly was wrong to make an order for the whole of Wales when it consulted on the basis of an Intensive Action Pilot Area (IAPA) which only supported a cull on evidence within the IAPA.

Gareth Vaughan, president of the Farmers' Union of Wales, said: "Both personally and as part of the union I am bitterly disappointed to hear this news and hope that we can get this changed as soon as possible. It is a huge issue for farmers in Wales and TB has cost the industry such a high amount."