A BADGER cull in parts of Derbyshire and Staffordshire will not happen until next year at the earliest, says the National Farmers Union.

Richard Hezlet, the NFU's East Midlands director, was speaking after the Government rejected his union's bid for the area to be included in trial culls this year.

The Government had agreed these should take place to see if they are effective in controlling bovine tuberculosis, which badgers are blamed for spreading among cattle herds.

Pilot schemes, under which badgers will be shot by licensed farmers and landowners, will take place in west Gloucestershire and west Somerset.

But Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, which has spoken out against the cull, believes there will be a legal challenge to the cull wherever it happens.

Mr Hezlet said that parts of West Derbyshire and East Staffordshire were among the areas worst affected by bovine TB.

He said: "Our argument was that the area is on the edge of where the disease has spread to and that we were keen to stop it spreading eastwards.

"We were disappointed not to be selected for the trials but we were really pleased with the support from farmers as we made the bid.

"Realistically, our chances were never great but we got really close to selection."

He said the union hoped to be in the next round of areas where farmers would be licensed to cull. Mr Hezlet said: "It depends on how the trials go – they are about proving that culling by contract shooting works – but we are hopeful of getting them in 2013."

Animal rights organisations, including those in Derbyshire, have threatened a campaign of criminal damage to stop culls when they take place.

Wildlife trust chief executive Ed Green said there was scientific evidence that a cull would not stop the spread of bovine TB.

This, he said, was because removing most of the infected badgers in a cull allows other badgers to come in from surrounding areas and become infected.

The trust says experts also believe that reducing the number of animals in an area will lead to increased movement of badgers as they look to populate new areas, causing the disease to spread.

Mr Green said he was not happy with the culling trials taking place anywhere.

He said: "The trials will almost certainly be subject to a legal challenge.

"I really hope the Government doesn't go ahead with the culls anywhere."

In order to be granted a licence, those taking part in the trials must demonstrate a high level of competence in marksmanship and then complete a Government-approved course.

At the same time, farmers will have to comply with Government TB cattle controls and bring in biosecurity measures to minimise the spread of bovine tuberculosis.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman had previously said that culling could reduce the incidence of bovine TB across the country by 10%.