THE highly controversial badger cull could be about to start in West Somerset as the National Farmers' Union (NFU) took legal steps yesterday (Thursday) to try and ban animal activists from local farms.

Some of the key players in the fight against the cull have been widely claiming the cull will start at the beginning of next week.

But the NFU denied any link between the start date and the timing of an application to the High Court yesterday afternoon for an injunction to stop protesters from entering privately-owned land within the cull zone without permission from the landowner.

If the injunction is granted it could also prevent anyone from threatening or harassing landowners and from picketing or protesting within 100m of anyone protected by the injunction.

Protesters would also be restricted from using megaphones, rape alarms, whistles or vuvuzelas within 25m of any privately-owned land within the cull zone.

Opponents claimed the NFU was trying to take away UK residents' right to peaceful protest, although some activists have pledged to take "direct action" against marksmen and farmers taking part in the cull.

NFU president Peter Kendall said the union had a duty to protect its members.

In a statement he said: "We have applied for the injunction in response to various incidents of harassment and intimidation carried out against farmers and landowners by activists opposed to the badger cull.

"The application was made against a number of defendants and we hope that the High Court will hear our application shortly."

The application for the injunction, which was sought under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, was due to be heard by the High Court yesterday afternoon as the Free Press went to print.

But while Mr Kendall insisted there was no link between the timing of the application and the start of the culls, it did seem to tally with comments made earlier this year by Avon and Somerset chief constable Nick Gargan.

Police chiefs were forced to deny he had given away the start date for the cull when he told a public meeting in Bristol: "The badger cull coming up in August . . . is going to be on Exmoor."

Within hours of his comments being reported, Avon and Somerset Constabulary issued a statement claiming Mr Gargan had simply meant the cull would be starting in the summer.

Because of the highly contentious nature of the cull the exact dates and locations have been shrouded in secrecy - even the boundaries of the West Somerset cull area have not been confirmed, although they are believed to largely follow the administrative boundary of West Somerset Council.

Around 5,000 badgers are due to be shot in Somerset and Gloucestershire under a Government-backed trial to try and reduce the spread of bovine TB in cattle.

Culling has been licensed over a six-week period, which could start at any time.