AN Oxfordshire farmer has pledged to keep a close eye on the roll-out of culling to tackle bovine TB.

David Christensen, from Kingston Bagpuize, who has 1,300 dairy and beef cattle, said: "My herd is free of bovine TB at the moment but in the past we have had a problem.

"I don't think the disease is going to go away unless we deal with it in cattle and wildlife, including badgers.

"It's very contentious, but the option for a cull in Oxfordshire should be kept open and reviewed accordingly. Action should not be ruled out at this stage.

"Badgers are nocturnal but we see their setts on the farm. If you have healthy badgers you want to keep them because they could stop infected badgers from coming in."

Culling is part of the government's strategy to wipe out the disease but critics, including conservationists, say there is no evidence it is effective.

The cull has taken place in Somerset and Gloucestershire since 2013 and happened in Dorset for the first time last year.

Almost 10,000 badgers are due to be killed as part of this year's cull, and nearly 1,500 animals were culled last year in the three counties.

A statement on the Badger Trust's website said: "We have openly opposed the cull since its inception; fighting legal battles, calling for scientific research and supporting groups on the ground."