MANY of us are never fortunate enough to see a badger, apart from on TV, and are appalled when we hear of badger-baiting.

Badgers are supposed to be protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. But this does not help the thousands which suffer horrific deaths each year.

Around 10,000 badgers are killed, illegally, each year -- dug from their setts and attacked by dogs for "sport."

Badgers are also illegally shot, poisoned, gassed and caught in cruel snares.

Yet, the Home Office does not consider the crimes important enough to be recorded and, so, they are not included in any government statistics.

Badger crime is often treated as low priority and, consequently, the baiters are never caught.

It is about time that the government took badger crime seriously and gave the badgers the protection they deserve.

We need much tougher action by the police to stop these evil criminals and the government must uphold its legislation.

A EDWARDS (Mrs), Whalley New Road, Blackburn.