Three more people have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass in the West Gloucestershire pilot badger cull area.

They were arrested in the early hours of yesterday as part of Operation Themis - Gloucestershire Constabulary’s response to the pilot badger cull.

A 20-year-old man from Walsall, a 52-year-old woman from Pittsburg in the USA and a 26-year-old woman from South Croyden in Surrey were all arrested at around 1.45am. They were arrested in the Kents Green area of Newent.

Four other people were arrested 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 around 3.10am on suspicion of theft and aggravated trespass. They were arrested in Redmarley.  The 34-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

Several other protestors have been stopped and questioned by police in Gloucestershire since the culling started a few weeks ago.