THE Forestry Commission's deputy surveyor, Kevin Stannard, says his authority would like to cull hundreds more wild boar - but has not been 'given a mandate' to do so by the public.

Mr Stannard said: "We have to take our lead from the community and so far the letters from the animal welfare lobby groups far exceed, by a very big margin, the amount of complaints from local residents and landowners."

At a special meeting this week organised by West Dean Parish Council, Mr Stannard revealed that since the cull got underway in September, only 76 boar had been shot. The agreed target was 135.

For the full story, read The Forester.