A ROW is brewing after a Government scientist said badgers should be killed to prevent the further spread of tuberculosis among cattle.

The Country Landowners Association described Professor David King's comments a breakthrough for common sense' - but a county badger group condemned his suggestion.

Association regional director John Mortimer said culling badgers would be a vital part of any measures which stood a realistic chance of bringing the disease under control and he hoped ministers would now listen to their own scientists and accept the government had an obligation to eradicate the disease.

He added: "Ministers should also take account of the impact of this disease on other wildlife populations and, indeed, on badgers themselves. Action which will bring about a reversal in the spread of the disease remains urgent and a commitment to a clear programme of action is needed now to prevent further, unnecessary suffering to the cattle industry."

But support for a cull was strongly criticised by the Dorset Badger Group.

Trust spokesman Trevor Lawson said: "This is a highly-politicised rush to judgement which, ludicrously, contains no cost benefit analysis."

He said the control of TB in cattle could be achieved by improving the cattle testing regime, adding that science showed cattle were the primary source of infection for both each other and badgers.

Mr Lawson said: "The Badger Trust is also shocked that this review was conducted in secret and involved advice from the Republic of Ireland, where 30 years of badger culling have left Eire with twice the level of bTB in the national herd compared to that found in Great Britain."

Dorset National Farmers' Union chairman Paul Harris said: "There is no doubt about it that an element of wildlife contains TB, but no sensible farmer wants to see a complete cull of badgers.

"We do want to see infected badgers removed where TB is rife - not just for the welfare of cattle but badgers as well."