Badger culls 'ineffective and inhumane', says scientists

Last year's badger culls, aimed at preventing the spread of TB (tuberculosis) in cattle, were "ineffective and inhumane" according to an independent scientific report.

Some animals took more than five minutes to die.

Analysis commissioned by the government found the number of badgers killed fell short of the target deemed necessary, the BBC understands.

The pilot culls were carried out to demonstrate the ability to combat bovine TB through a controlled reduction in the population of local badgers.

Pallab Ghosh reports.