Animal Welfare minister Elliot Morley today announced a wide-ranging consultation exercise on the future of the threatened Saltdean badgers.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) issued a licence to cull the family of badgers in Saltdean on October 7, only for the execution to be called off following public outrage.

Now Defra is to undertake a thorough consultation with local residents, including the four households who called for the cull to protect their homes from damage.

The department's Rural Development Service is to invite local interest groups, including the South Downs Badger Group, Brighton and Hove City Council and residents to attend a meeting to hear the background and to come to a suitable arrangement.

Mr Morley will also write to interest groups, including the RSPCA, English Nature, the Central Science Laboratory and vets, inviting them to attend a discussion forum to agree proposed future action.

In addition, ADAS has been asked to put forward a chartered surveyor and structural engineer who will produce an independent structural survey of the site to determine the possible extent of any potential damage to the Saltdean properties.

The cost of the householders' survey will be paid by Defra.

Since the suspension of work on Monday, Defra has received a number of offers from groups and individuals to move the badgers, which are also being closely examined, although none appear to be satisfactory.

Defra officials say they are extremely concerned about the prevalence of TB in the local badger population.

Mr Morley said it was vital local residents and interest groups had an opportunity to come to a suitable agreement.

He said: "I very much hope further talks with residents, Brighton council and interest groups will lead to a positive outcome for all."