Liz Truss criticised for not visiting local farmers during Somerset visit

A Somerset MP who says she wrote to the new Environment Secretary inviting her to meet local farmers, says she's disappointed that she failed to do so.

Wells MP Tessa Munt has criticised Liz Truss for failing to take the opportunity to meet with a group of local farmers and landowners from the Axe and Brue catchment areas during her visit to the Somerset Levels yesterday.

The new Environment Secretary has told ITV News that badgers won't be gassed as part of the badger cull. Liz Truss was speaking on a visit to Somerset, just ten days after taking over from Owen Paterson in the cabinet reshuffle.

Her comments came as she toured dredging work in Burrowbridge as part of the plan to prevent a repeat of the devastating floods on the Somerset Levels.

The new Environment Secretary Liz Truss has told ITV West Country that the Government has ruled out gassing badgers.

Her pledge came as she visited the Somerset Levels for the first time to see the dredging operation. She said that the dredging will be completed on time.

The new Environment Secretary is due to visit Somerset today.

Liz Truss will see work to prevent the flooding that devastated the levels and moors last winter. She will visit Burrowbridge to see dredging on the River Parrett.