Badger cull: more than 10,000 badgers killed during the Autumn as Government steps up disease control

More than 10,000 badgers have been killed this Autumn in the latest round of a controversial cull.

Government figures show the official number of badgers killed was 10,866 - a significant rise on last year's figures.

The scheme is centred on the West Country and has been rolled out to Devon and Cornwall this year after trials in Gloucestershire, Dorset and Somerset.

The aim of the cull is to tackle the infectious disease bovine tuberculosis - which affects cattle in the UK.

Animal welfare groups have criticised the cull saying it's a 'pointless exercise' because it does not reduce bovine Tb and is carried out in an inhumane manner.

Phillip Mansbridge, the UK Director of International Fund for Animal Welfare, said:

The badgers are being killed to help limit the spread of Bovine Tuberculosis. Credit: PA Images

But in a statement the Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom defended the cull saying: