CAMPAIGNERS that want to stop the ‘senseless slaughter’ of thousands of the UK’s badgers will stage a protest in Winchester.

The peaceful march will see up to 100 people dressed in black, white and badger costumes as they march from Abbey Gardens, up St George’s, Jewry and the High Streets, before finishing where they started.

It has been organised by Southampton resident Anna Dale, who says she was “outraged” when she learned of badgers being killed to try and stop TB outbreaks amongst cattle.

She said: “I am determined to inform people because I don’t think people are properly informed, and if they were they would be against it too.

“We are taking away a native species that has been around for a quarter of a million years. They have been here longer than we have. It’s not humanely carried out and animals suffered. It’s really upsetting.”

The protest, at midday on Saturday (November 22), will see speeches from Dominic Dyer, chief executive of The Badger Trust, Adrian Coward, of Somerset Badger Group, and Pete Martin, of Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting.

It is the first march of its kind in Hampshire.