When badgers in Saltdean were granted a stay of execution late last year, it looked as if their survival was assured.

But months later the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) still cannot make up its mind about the solution.

The sorry story began with alarm about extensive tunnelling by the badgers, which residents said could undermine their homes.

Defra gave permission for a cull but changed its mind after enormous protests by animals lovers. It went away to think of a solution.

Plenty of people were on hand to offer ideas, including badger experts who have studied the animals.

They suggested building an artificial sett not far away, which could save both the homes and the badgers.

Neither this eminently sensible solution nor any other appears to have found favour with the civil servants who run Defra.

They have made a complete bodge of the badger problem from start to finish.

They failed to consult properly, changed their minds and now cannot make them up.

It might be better if Defra relinquished its control, such as it is, over badgers and left local councils, who know the territory better, to make the choice.

Even the most incompetent council would be hard pushed to make a worst fist of dealing with the difficulty than Defra.