A SPECIAL vaccine to counter bovine tuberculosis (TB) is likely to be trialled on the badger population in South Devon when it becomes available next year.

The farming industry and the Government are pinning their hopes on the vaccine as the disease is causing havoc among cattle herds, with 6,000 cattle culled in Devon alone last year as a result of reacting positively to bovine TB tests.

Last summer, the Government caused consternation by refusing a cull of diseased badgers and hoping instead on the speedy development of vaccines for both cattle and badgers.

But yesterday, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said he hoped a badger vaccine would be available in 2010 – and that the South Hams could well be the testing area for it.

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