DESPITE being judged a failure on humaneness and effectiveness by an independent panel, and against all scientific advice, the badger cull has not only restarted in Somerset and Gloucestershire but now extended to Dorset.

I have visited Dorset on many occasions and admired its natural beauty.

No longer will I wish to continue visiting this part of the country knowing our precious wildlife is being persecuted there.

There will be no independent monitoring and licences have already been found to be breached in the Gloucestershire cull area.

Dirty cages have been found containing blood and body tissue from shot badgers and there is evidence of mutilation (one was discovered with its ears cut off).

Free shooting is also permitted under the licences from Natural England despite opposition by the British Veterinary Association.

A legal challenge has been filed by Queen guitarist and founder of the Save Me Trust, Brian May, the cull policy has been strongly opposed by Angela Smith, shadow Environment Secretary and Vets Against the Cull.

The Countryside Alliance has demonstrated the weakness of its case to continue the cull by attempting to blacken the name of Chris Patten, an eminent scientist and conservationist.

Research just published by Queen Mary University of London shows that Bovine TB tactics currently employed by the Welsh and Scottish authorities, which involve more testing of cattle and no badger culling, are effective and leading the way in TB reduction.

One may ask why this government, at a time of austerity, still pursues a cruel, failing policy which in the last two years in Gloucestershire and Somerset has cost the tax payer £16.7 million to kill 2,449 badgers most of which would have been TB free anyway.

This policy has always been driven by politics and continues to be so.

Jane Hutchins Crowborough East Sussex