ENGLISH Heritage and the Ministry of Defence have assured badger lovers in Wiltshire that they have no intention of culling badgers on Salisbury Plain to preserve archaeological sites.

Speculation that the two Government bodies wanted to get rid of badgers to protect ancient monuments on Salisbury Plain were raised in an article by Juliette Jowit, the Observer's environment correspondent, last Sunday.

But English Heritage and the Ministry of Defence assured the National Federation of Badger Groups that neither organisation had any plans to cull badgers, which are protected under wildlife legislation.

It has transpired that the Observer article originated from a feature written by Defence Estates archaeologist, Dr Allan Morton, published in July.

In his article, Dr Morton raised concerns that badgers can "jumble" the cake-like layers in archaeological sites. Although the law entitles archaeologists to deal with such cases by excluding the badgers, he said this could prove expensive and time-consuming.

The MoD and English Heritage both confirmed that they are fully supportive of badgers and nature conservation.

Dr Elaine King, chief executive of the National Federation of Badger Groups, said: "Badgers and humans have lived side by side in Britain since the Ice Age and badgers have always excavated in ground loosened by human activity.

"As well as constructing setts in some archaeological sites, they are also found in soil spills on the edge of prehistoric fields, in the walls of ancient pits dug for flints and other aggregates, in ancient West Country hedge banks and in the embankments of steam-age railways.

"They are part of our natural heritage and are highly valued along with our cultural heritage."