ACTIVISTS are calling the dumping of three badger carcasses by a footpath in Lyneham as “absolutely diabolical.”

The animals were shot after a cull.

Members of Wiltshire Against The Badger Cull were patrolling Lyneham on Saturday evening (October 14) when they claim to have spotted the bodies piled up by a tree, only 20 metres from a public footpath.

Mike Parkes, spokesman for Wiltshire Against The Badger Cull, said: “It is absolutely diabolical to leave carcasses like that.

“Badgers are claimed to be diseasing cattle, so to leave what they claim are diseased badgers like that is only going to make it worse. It is wrong.

“They could have had a dog over there smelling the flesh which could infect them.

“I was totally horrified and disgusted but at the same time not surprised.

“They have total disregard and and are callous.”

It is believed the badgers were shot earlier that morning.

Mr Parkes also said the badgers are supposed to be disposed of straight away.

The government issued licences for culling in Wiltshire last month, to expand a crackdown on the spread of tuberculosis in cattle.

The National Farmers Union do not comment on operational matters, but a spokesman said: “Nobody wants to cull badgers, but let us not forget the other side of the equation, which is usually ignored by those against the cull. The most recent figures show that in the 12 months to May 2017 1,891 cattle were slaughtered in Wiltshire because of Bovine TB and 223 herds were under restriction due to the disease.

“Bovine TB is a devastating disease which we need to do our best to get rid of. The cull is just a part of the Government’s 25-year TB eradication strategy, which also includes ever more stringent restrictions on cattle, with thousands of them being slaughtered, and on trading for TB affected farms.”

Wiltshire Police were notified of the incident.