ANIMAL protection campaigners protested in Worcester this week against the culling of badgers, which is currently taking place in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

Worcestershire Vegans and Veggies organised the protest, which was held outside government buildings in Whittington Road.

The location was selected because it is the home of the regional offices of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the government body that organises the cull, and Natural England, the agency that issues licences for the killing of badgers.

Protestors held banners and placards, with many of them dressed as badgers or wearing badger masks.

Ronald Lee, communications officer at Worcestershire Vegans and Veggies, said: "We wanted to send a clear message to the government and to the agencies involved in the badger cull that they should end this slaughter.”

For more details on the group visit worcsveg.org.uk