Two west farmers will be amongst an NFU organised delegation lobbying MPs at Westminster yesterday - Thursday February 10 - over the growing threat from badgers and bovine TB.

Brian Hill, from Beaworthy, West Devon, and Christopher Thomas-Everard, from Exmoor, will be meeting Parliamentarians along with farmers from other areas where the problem is particularly acute prior to an adjournment debate on the issue in the Palace of Westminster scheduled to run from 2.30pm until 5.

The debate is considered crucial by farmers who accept the need for trials to prove how the disease is spread but are extremely worried about areas where they will be no trials or where the trials, which entail badger trapping, are wrecked by saboteurs.

Also present will be the chairman of the NFU's animal health and welfare committee, Brian Jennings, who farms on the Devon/Cornwall border.

"It is vital that every MP voting in tomorrow's debate understands fully the gravity of the situation facing cattle farmers in certain parts of the country - and the South West is by far and away the worst hit - and that they are aware of the consequences of the way they vote."