Oswestry’s farmers have pleaded with parliamentary candidates to back a cull of TB infected badgers which they said were having a catastrophic effect on their livelihoods.

Retired farmer, Norman Ellis, told an election hustings meeting in the town, which was organised by the NFU, that farmers were being affected by tuberculosis just a few miles away from Oswestry.

Cattle affected by bovine TB have to be slaughtered and farmers say that culling badgers in an infected area would prevent the disease spreading.

“It is the biggest crisis facing the farming industry today,” he said.

“They are starting the process toward a cull in Wales, thank goodness,” he said.

“Talk of a vaccination scheme is ridiculous. How the hell can you vaccinate every badger?”

Conservative candidate for North Shropshire, Owen Paterson, said the TB problem in Britain was an “utter scandal” which he said, could be stopped if people were rational.

“There are 40,000 cattle a year going into skips and badgers are dying hideous deaths because of tuberculosis.”

The UKIP candidate, Sandra List, said badgers were emotive.

“People wouldn’t turn a hair if there was a suggestion of a cull of rats.”

Both the Liberal Democrat and Labour candidates, Ian Croll and Ian McLaughan, said they would support a cull if it was scientifically proven to be the answer.

But the Green party candidate, Steve Boulding, reminded the meeting: “We are the stewards of this planet and have a moral responsibility to look after all animals.”

Other issues discussed at the hustings at the Pedigree pub – which attracted around 50 members of the National Farmers’ Union – included the Common Agricultural Policy and single farm payments.

By Sue Austin