THE MP for St Ives has warned that the Government's proposed badger-culling "pilot" risks making animal disease worse.

Andrew George, who is also the Liberal Democrat's Agriculture spokesman, spoke out after the Government announced its landmark decision to cull badgers to halt the spread of tuberculosis in cattle. It had been concluded, previously, that culling in hotspot areas could reduce the incidence of bovine TB by up to 16 per cent.

However, the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, from which the data was derived, did not test the effectiveness of "controlled shooting method" proposed by the Government.

Ministers want two "pilot" culls, in which 70 per cent of the badger population would be killed in a 150sq km area, to take place to ensure "controlled shooting" is an effective way to curb bovine TB.

Some opponents of the scheme, which is unlikely to start before next summer, fear killing badgers may make others scatter, carrying TB to other farms near target zones.

Mr George said: "This is an untried and untested method. Controlling the bovine TB epidemic is crucial for our farmers, many of whom have had their herds devastated by this disease.

"I am not squeamish about culling badgers, if that is what needs to be done. However, this proposal seriously risks making matters worse."

George Eustice, Conservative MP for Hayle, who descends from Cornish farming stock, believes the decision will be welcomed by Westcountry farmers. "Longer term we need to accelerate the development of vaccines for badgers and cattle ," he said.

"But in the short term, a targeted cull can reduce the incidence of TB in herds."