Volunteers collecting petitions to save the Saltdean badgers are being asked to send them to campaign organisers who will present them to the Prime Minister.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) issued a licence to cull a family of badgers in Saltdean to four householders who said the animals were damaging their homes and gardens.

Two of the animals were trapped and shot at night before a huge swell of public protests forced Defra to suspend the licence, which has now expired and is unlikely to be renewed until after the breeding season, which ends in June.

Badger lovers and independent experts are using the time to try to offer Defra a humane solution.

The badger coalition, which consists of badger groups, animal lovers and residents opposed to the cull, have been collecting signatures on the petitions, as well as carrying out survey work to establish the badgers' movements and numbers.

Dr Stephen Harris, from the University of Bristol and an independent expert, is also preparing a report for Defra.

Meanwhile, the coalition is hoping to collect the petitions within the next week or so.

Anyone who has a petition should send it to the Saltdean Badger Coalition, c/o Southdowns Badger Protection Group, 71 Court Farm Road, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 9DY.