HIRED marksmen from the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust are "worse than poachers" since it began a policy of culling deer in its own nature reserve, a farmer has claimed.

Brian Jones said Muntjac deer have been virtually wiped out in Grafton Wood, next to Park Farm, Dormston, since the leading charity starting shooting on its 200-acre reserve.

The keen conservationist believes 11 animals have already been shot and he now wants trust supporters to withdraw their membership until its policy is altered.

"I spent decades protecting these animals from poachers in and around these woods and the trust's actions have sickened me," said Mr Jones, who farms in the neighbouring village of Dormston.

"The trust has shot around 11 deer in the last two years on what is supposed to be a nature reserve. They are worse than the poachers," said Mr Jones.

"I have been a member of the trust for around 30 years, but I am urging members to withdraw their membership.

"Spotting the shy Muntjac used to be a real highlight for ramblers on the Wychavon Way. There was only ever a handful on the land and I've now only seen one since Christmas."

The 66-year-old has sent letters to the trust, but was stunned with one reply, which stated the "conservation of the Muntjac deer was not a priority."

In a written statement Trust director Colin Raven said it was a controlled cull of a pest species, which was threatening conservation objectives.

"This is an unfortunate example of where the population of an introduced species having escaped into the wild has grown to the point where it poses a threat to other, endangered native wildlife," he said.

Muntjac deer were brought into this country as an ornamental species for deer parks from south-east china and Taiwan. They escaped from Woburn Park in Bedfordshire and spread through the countr about 1900.

Mr Jones said it seemed hypocritical to let native Roe deer carry on grazing freely within the nature reserve, while shooting this other species.