Eradicating TB is in the interest of badgers as much as cattle, according to a spokesman for the farming community.

Philip Jenkins, of the Ledbury and Ross branch of the National Farmers' Union, said this is one of the worst effected areas in the country and cattle farmers locally not hit by TB are in the minority.

When TB hits a herd, affected animals are sent to slaughter with a Government-set figure for compensation.

There are then restrictions on cattle movement, which serious impact on farmers' livelihoods and last for a minimum of ten months.

Mr Jenkins said action to eradicate TB-infected badgers was essential. He said the spread of TB to closed pedigree herds proves that cattle movement is not entirely to blame.

"Farmers don't hate badgers, that's a fact, they have no problem at all with healthy badgers but they don't believe it's in the badgers' interest that there is nothing done to control the disease in badgers," he said.

One problem farmers do face is being left with the responsibility for culling. Mr Jenkins said the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) must take the lead, although the Government consultation appears less than enthusiastic.

Methods include shooting free-running badgers, trapping and shooting, although that may mean the use of handguns, which are illegal, or pumping carbon monoxide or cyanide into setts.

View the consultation document at www.defra.gov.uk/ corporate/consult/badgers-tbcontrols/index.htm.