Forty angry residents today demonstrated outside a meeting to discuss the future of the Saltdean badgers.

Protesters in white uniforms and badger masks chanted as the meeting started between council representatives, badger group members and officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) at Brighton Town Hall.

The debate was being held behind closed doors to discuss the sett of badgers saved from a cull two weeks ago.

Paul Cutler, 22, of Saltdean, said: "It's disgusting that Defra have not explored other options.

"Hopefully the meeting will produce viable alternatives from Defra to relocate the badgers."

Jack Langford, ten, of Beckshill Road, Woodingdean, said: "It's nasty to kill badgers just because some people are worried about a bit of grass.

"They have been here for 40 years, before the people moved in."

Trevor Weeks, of South Downs Badger group, said: "I don't think this meeting will produce a solution but hopefully it will be the start of something positive."

Councillor Heather James said: "We want practical solutions, as we feel the badgers do not need to be culled. The demonstration today shows the strength of people's feelings. It has not been made clear by Defra why and how these licences are issued."

The plight of the Saltdean badgers hit the national headlines after we reported the Government had issued the first licence to cull badgers since 1996.

They are protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.

The licence was issued after four householders in Saltdean complained the animals had wrecked their homes and gardens.

Neighbours, other residents and animal lovers mounted a 24-hour vigil in the hope of saving the animals. But Defra representatives set 14 traps around the badgers' sett and caught and shot two animals.

The protests grew and less than a week after the licence was issued, Defra suspended the cull indefinitely.