Environment secretary comments on progress

After the pilot badger cull officially began in Somerset at the end of August, environment secretary Owen Paterson has said the operation is "proceeding to plan".

The start of the cull was confirmed by Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmer's Union (NFU), in a letter to members.

Commenting on progress in a written statement to the House of Commons, Mr Paterson said that "those involved are pleased with progress to date."

Initially, the cull aims to test whether or not the badger control programme can be carried out "effectively, humanely and safely," the results of which will be published.

Mr Paterson said in his written statement that ministers will use this evidence to determine whether the culls should be rolled out more widely across the country.

The BVA has previously expressed support for the pilot culls and called for anti-cull campaigners to allow the scientific work to be completed unhindered.

Despite this, protesters have gathered in both culling areas - Somerset and Gloucestershire, where a second cull is believed to have begun.

Mr Paterson concluded his statement by saying: "This pilot cull is a necessary part of a wide range of actions that we need to take if we are to free the cattle industry from the burden of this devastating disease. We wish to see healthy cattle living alongside healthy wildlife."