AN Evesham woman was among four people arrested as part of the police response to the controversial badger cull pilot.

The badger cull is believed to have started on the Gloucestershire - Worcestershire border last week.

A 46-year-old woman from Evesham, a 46-year-old woman from Cheltenham, a 34-year-old woman from Gloucester and a 23-year-old man from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire were all arrested at about 3.10am today on suspicion of theft and aggravated trespass.

They were arrested in Redmarley, near Ledbury.

They were arrested as part of Operation Themis – Gloucestershire Constabulary’s response to the pilot badger cull.

The 34-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

All four currently remain in police custody.

A planned cull has also begun in Somerset, aimed at combating bovine TB, with around 5,000 badgers expected to be killed by trained marksmen during the six-week programme.