A national animal welfare group says Government staff should learn to count before they start killing the badgers of Saltdean.

Dr Elaine King, chief executive of the National Federation of Badger Groups (NFBG), said the Department of the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) cannot add up.

Defra issued a licence to kill up to 15 badgers in Saltdean on October 7, which it said were living in a sett across four gardens in the town.

More than 300 local protesters halted the killing after two badgers were trapped and shot.

Dr King said that meant up to 13 badgers were left but information provided by people in Saltdean suggested there could be as few as two badgers remaining, while Defra cannot agree on the numbers.

She said: "In various statements and papers, Defra's local officials alleged there were six to eight or eight to ten and ten to 12 and, in the licence, 15 badgers.

"Defra officials should learn to count before they start killing. None of its wildly varying figures has been verified by an expert in assessing badger numbers and local officials seem to be making it up as they go along.

"Knowing how many badgers live in the problem sett is fundamental to deciding how best to deal with it.

"Defra's local officials only organised a count in early September, when much of the area was obscured by vegetation and almost five months after recommending extermination."

She said: "We welcome animal welfare minister Elliot Morley's commitment to consulting properly on this issue but we believe he has been badly advised."

Defra is holding a meeting at its offices in London next Wednesday, November 27, to discuss the Saltdean badgers.

Badger groups and residents in Saltdean opposed to the cull are organising a coach to take protesters to the capital to campaign against any decision to revoke the suspension of the cull licence.

Anyone who wants to catch the bus should call Trevor Weeks on 07815 078234.