For Paul Griffith, news that badgers are to be reprieved is the last straw. The cattle farmer from North Lew, near Holsworthy, Devon, is one of 1,200 farmers who wanted to carry out a licensed cull of the animals across the West Country to eradicate bovine TB.

They knew the Government would never pay and so they were willing to do it themselves.

Now he fears the worst – farmers resorting to gassing, shooting or poisoning infected badgers and setts.

“Farmers are angry and frustrated and they will do desperate things,” Mr Griffith, the Devon delegate to the National Farmers’ Union council, said. “It worries me they will get out there and take their own measures. But they’re driven to it.”

Mr Griffith also fears farmers will be lumbered with more stringent rules on testing and movement of cattle without any action on infected badgers.

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