A campaign has been launched to ban the culling of badgers in Epping Forest.

The Harlow Badger Group fear the current culling programme could be rolled into areas where bovine tuberculosis is not a problem.

Member Helen Carr, 45, of Bumbles Green in Nazeing, said a group petition is now calling for the practice of shooting badgers to be banned on Epping Forest District Council-owned land to protect local sets.

She said: “We’re talking about bovine TB which is a cattle disease, a disease which is spread to badgers and other animals.

“The latest research shows that 96 percent of BTB is spread cattle to cattle.

“Killing badgers is not going to solve the problem.”

The government argues that culling is the most efficient way to protect cattle.

The petition can be found by clicking here.