CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride has supported pilot badger culls during a debate in the House of Commons.

The issue was discussed on October 25, and Mr Stride spoke to support pilot culls as what he believes to be the most effective way of helping farmers fight the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

He said: 'Until there is an oral vaccine, it is totally impractical to try to vaccinate the badger population.

'First, they have to be caught. Secondly, the person doing the catching has to be licensed by Natural England at huge cost, and thirdly, the cost is estimated at £2,250 per square kilometre.

'Biosecurity and continued work on developing an oral badger vaccine remains vital but we must investigate the possibility of culling as a way to tackle this disease.

'There is no country in the world that has eradicated bovine TB without tackling it in the wildlife population.'

In a vote at the debate, 147 MPs voted to abandon the proposed badger cull, against 28 in support of the action. However, the Government is not legally bound by the vote, and could still press on regardless.

The vote was taken two days after it was announced the proposed culls would be postponed until next summer.