Campaigners fighting to save a colony of badgers have blamed the RSPCA for helping to sign the animals' death warrant.

The animal welfare charity did not oppose a licence to cull the animals at Saltdean last month.

Animal welfare minister Elliot Morley issued a licence to cull the badgers after four households complained they were wrecking their homes and gardens.

Two animals were trapped and shot before Mr Morley agreed to suspend the licence indefinitely following outrage from a growing number of protesters.

Since then, badger groups, residents and Brighton and Hove City Council have been working to find a solution to the problem.

They believe there are humane alternatives to prevent any further damage to properties.

Campaigners have been working intensively in Saltdean to compile a comprehensive survey of the badgers, their numbers, movements and location of setts in an attempt to discover if the animals can be excluded from certain setts and encouraged to use an alternative.

The groups fighting for the cull licence to be permanently revoked, including the National Federation of Badger Groups, requested copies of the information compiled by Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on the issue.

Trevor Weeks, of the Southdowns Badger Group, said about a third of the information had been handed over.

Among the reports was evidence that RSPCA chiefs had agreed the only way to deal with the badgers was to kill them.

Mr Weeks, who mounted a 24-hour vigil near the sett when the licence was issued, said: "Frankly I'm horrified and furious.

"It's amazing. This is the most damaging piece of information we have seen. I wouldn't be surprised if the information did not help change Elliot Morley's mind to issue a licence."

Mr Morley had twice previously refused permission to issue a licence to kill the animals before agreeing to a cull in October.

Mr Weeks believes Mr Morley may have changed his mind once the country's leading animal welfare charity gave its backing for euthanasia.

However, Mr Weeks said the national decision to agree to the cull could have implications for local RSPCA workers.

Mr Weeks said: "I feel sorry for the local inspectors who will be tarred with the same brush as the national RSPCA.

"The local inspectors do a great job and this could damage them."

When the cull licence was issued, an RSPCA spokesman gave the statement: "This was a decision taken by Defra. The RSPCA investigated all possible options for removing the badgers but because of the possible risk of TB, Defra will not grant a licence for the badgers to be moved.

"If the badgers were to be relocated, they would have to be taken to a secure holding centre for three months while they were triple-tested for TB.

"Finding such a centre has been one of the stumbling blocks, along with concerns over the stress that such a detention may cause to the badgers.

"Nevertheless, the RSPCA is continuing to investigate any possible alternative to the badgers being put to sleep."

Yesterday, Colin Booty, senior scientific officer with the RSPCA, said: "When we were first contacted about the situation and given the opportunity to visit the site, we considered the problem and discussed it with Defra.

"We took the view we wouldn't oppose the licence because, unfortunately, there were significant welfare problems with their translocation or excluding them from the site. Doing nothing was not an option.

"We did not welcome the licence or relish it but in the circumstances the licence was the least worst option."