AN OCTOGENARIAN farmer from Gloucestershire has vowed to fight on despite the Government ruling out a badger cull to tackle TB.

Pat Quinn, 81, who owns a 125-acre farm near Stow-on-the- Wold, was devastated after bovine TB was detected in her herd of Longhorns last year.

Ms Quinn was among the protesters who travelled to Westminster yesterday to demonstrate against the culling decision.

A further five of her 50-strong breeding herd were slaughtered in April.

Ms Quinn's farm is among thousands subject to movement restrictions as a result of the disease.

She says the industry's hands are tied in tackling the disease after the Government ruled out a badger cull to tackle TB in cattle.

The National Farmers' Union has warned Environment Secretary Hilary Benn's decision would be disastrous for farming.

Ms Quinn said: “Hilary Benn doesn't live on a farm with cattle and badgers. He doesn't understand what the problem is.

“I started the herd 30 years ago and have been clear for all that time until last year.”

The first case of TB was detected following an “explosion” of badgers in the area, she said. None of her herd had come into contact with other cattle.

But she added: “I must fight this – probably until the end of my life. You feel you have let them down by not being able to do anything. They are like a family.”

Mr Benn said vaccination would instead be made a priority, with an extra £20 million invested over the next three years.

He acknowledged his decision would be met with disappointment and anger by farmers but insisted there was no quick or easy solution to the problem.

Cotswolds MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said: “This whole problem causes human and animal misery on a huge scale.

“The Government is simply abrogating responsibility. It's a disgrace.”

About 2,500 cattle a year get bovine TB, and 30,000 stock are killed every year because of the disease, says the NFU.

It believes a cull is necessary to curb TB in cattle.

Gloucestershire is one of the worst-hit areas in the country for the disease.

Jan Rowe, who is the NFU's TB spokesman and farms near Cheltenham, said the mood in the farming industry as one of despair.

He said: “This is a very dangerous disease which is expanding and we have a Government which is not prepared to do anything about it. It's completely untenable. It's a totally negligent policy to adopt.”