Badger cull kills more than 10,000 animals in three months

Ministers claim soaring number is a success in effort to cut bovine TB in England but charities question cull's effectiveness

The number of animals shot in England's controversial badger cull soared to more than 10,000 this autumn, as part of the government's attempt to cut tuberculosis (TB) in cattle.

Ministers claimed the result as a success but a leading scientist said there was "no basis" for suggesting the cull was effective, while wildlife charities said badgers were being used as a scapegoat for failures in the intensive livestock industry.