ROCKSTAR Brian May visited Newent this week to call for an end to the 'brutality' of the badger cull.

The Queen guitarist supped beer at the George Hotel on Friday afternoon to meet with fellow protesters, claiming the badger cull was causing a 'civil war' in Newent and the nearby cull area.

He said he would much rather be writing pop songs than getting involved with fighting the cull but was spurred on by the 'injustice and waste' taking place in the pilot areas.

"This will not eradicate Bovine tuberculosis," he said.

"Vaccination is the only thing that will do that."

He called the killing of badgers 'pointless', adding that science and research is on the side of 'Team Badger'.

He said: "It goes against every scientist outside of the government.

"It flies totally in the face of science."

For more on Brian May's visit to the Forest, pick up a copy of The Forester.