TRIALS to vaccinate badgers against bovine TB in Gloucestershire showed the practice was "possible but impractical".

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said the work carried out in Stroud, where wild animals were injected to prevent the spread of the devastating disease, had shown it was "certainly difficult to make affordable".

It came as Mrs Spelman unveiled plans to press ahead with a targeted cull of badgers, which are known to carry and spread TB to livestock.

Carried out by licensed groups of farmers and landowners it would be subject to strict controls.

The cull is bitterly opposed by animal welfare campaigners.

Mrs Spelman said she was "strongly minded" to press ahead in areas worst affected by the disease, but added the ultimate aim was to vaccinate both cattle and badgers.

There were "serious practical difficulties" with the injectable badger vaccine trialled on farm land near Stroud.

It is around 10 times more expensive than controlled shooting and difficult to administer, meaning most farmers are currently unwilling to pay.

Mrs Spelman said the disease was getting worse and declared: "We cannot go on like this."

Her statement on curbing bovine TB was welcomed by Tory MP for Stroud Neil Carmichael, who asked her thoughts on the vaccination programme there.

She replied: "They have concluded that it is possible but impractical."