A LICENCE allowing farmers to shoot badgers in West Somerset in a bid to combat the spread of TB in cattle has been issued. 

Natural England granted the licence to a specially-formed company for just under a 100 square mile area of land. 

It means the people covered by the licence can shoot badgers in the pilot zone for six weeks annually for four years.

Culling can begin once the dates and quota of badgers that can be shot have been confirmed.