PLANS to cull badgers in Wales have received broad support from farmers in the region.

A trial cull in North Pembrokeshire was announced in January as part of efforts by the Assembly government to control the spread of bovine TB.

Badgers have been linked to the disease but the issue is highly controversial and many campaigners insist the animals are being made scapegoats for a wider problem.

Kevin Hughes, a dairy farmer in Mold, told the Leader he would welcome an extension of the cull into Flintshire.

He said: “We’ve got to do something about the TB, we can’t go on as we are.

“Culling the badgers won’t solve the problem on its own but it’s a start.”

Mr Hughes said TB was the biggest problem facing dairy farmers apart from the price of milk.

T W Griffiths, a farmer from Holywell, said he agreed with Mr Hughes but saw the scale of opposition to a cull as a problem.

He said: “We’ve definitely got to have some control on the TB problem.

“They’re doing their best but there’s so much opposition.”

Another Flintshire farmer, who wished to remain anonymous, said a cull in North Wales might be necessary.

He added: “The problem of TB has got out of control. It’s a good job somebody’s doing something in Pembrokeshire.”

Dairy farmer Albey Pinder said he hoped a cull would not be necessary in North Wales.

He added: “We’ve got badgers, but they don’t really bother us. I’ve been married for 60 years and we’ve had badgers on the farm since I was courting.

“I’m sure it won’t be necessary to cull them in North Wales.

“We’ve got to try other solutions first.”