CHESHIRE Wildlife Trust does not believe badger culling is a long-term solution for tackling TB.

Richard Gardner, living landscape manager at the Malpas-based trust, says they are lobbying the Government to find a more sustainable way of dealing with the infection.

He said: “Culling is not a sustainable option. It will have some effect in the short-term, but it’s not a long-term solution.

“Badgers are settled communities, staying in areas for hundreds and hundreds of years.

“As soon as you start removing them they will start fighting for new setts. Do we really want to be killing all our natural wildlife?”

In his role Mr Gardner works closely with West Cheshire farmers and understands their fears.

“I work with farms on a day-to-day basis and I understand where they are coming from,” he said.

“We realise it’s a big issue and it’s increasing in Cheshire.”

Mr Gardner said the trust will be teaming up with their counterparts in Shropshire to deliver a badger TB vaccine project this autumn.

They will be targeting badgers in North Shropshire and South Cheshire.