Dorset could be in the next wave of badger culls

An announcement's expected later this week that an area of Dorset could be included in the next wave of badger culls.

Trials in parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire will also be continued, despite the fact that they failed to achieve their targets last year.

And as our political correspondent Bob Constantine reports, it comes as there's growing opposition in Parliament, including from Conservative MPs.

MPs have voted by an overwhelming majority to end the badger cull, following last year's pilots in Somerset and Gloucestershire. But despite the huge margin of 219 to one, it WON'T change the policy of the Government, whose MPs chose to abstain. Here's Bob Constantine.

MPs are debating a motion to end the badger culls, which took place in Somerset and Gloucestershire, after a report said they had failed to meet their targets or kill badgers humanely.

The result of the vote is expected just after 5 o'clock.

Animal rights groups from the South West demonstrated against the culls in Westminster ahead of the debate. The government says other options to combat the spread of TB in cattle, including vaccinating animals, are not practical. We spoke to Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy

Wildlife campaigner Bill Oddie has addressed a crowd of anti-badger cull protestors who have gathered outside Parliament in advance of this afternoon's debate.

Animal rights groups from the south west are expected to demonstrate in Westminster later as MPs prepare to vote on the badger cull.

They will be debating a motion to end the culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire after a report said they had failed to meet their targets or kill badgers humanely.

The government says other options including vaccinating animals are not practical.

Two reports have been released today - both criticising the effectiveness and humaneness of the recent badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire. The first independent study was commissioned by the government itself.

The second comes as a result of information obtained by cull monitors, who found that many badgers weren't shot cleanly or quickly.