THE review examining the science behind a potential cull of badgers to combat Bovine TB will report shortly, it has been confirmed.

The Environment Minister John Griffiths now expects to receive the Science Review Group’s report at the end of November.

He announced plans for a badger cull would be put on hold in June, while an independent panel of experts looked at the science behind the issue.

Originally the Labour- Plaid Assembly coalition – which came to an end in May – had planned the badger cull alongside other measures to control TB in cattle in an area of north Pembrokeshire, the so-called Intensive Action Area.

AM Angela Burns said: “For many farmers of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire the uncertainty that has surrounded this has been very frustrating.

“Farmers are in limbo and being put under TB restrictions or having to watch valuable cows being destroyed, many of them needlessly.

“The minister has delayed long enough. It is now time to take the tough but necessary decisions to eradicate this disease.”

Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Antoinette Sandbach said: “When the minister finally gets sight of this report, it will be almost six months since he kicked the cull into the long grass.

“During that time frustrations over the delay have got worse and worse.”