Police are investigating after a badger was found nailed to a tree in Wales.

A walker found the animal, which is protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, in Nantglyn, Denbigh, on Wednesday morning.

It had been nailed to a tree by its feet.

WARNING: This article contains a graphic image

A spokesperson for North Wales Police said it was found hanging at a height of around 3m (10ft).

“We can’t yet confirm what the cause of death of this animal was, but we have submitted the body for a post-mortem,” said Police Constable Richard Smith, of the Rural Crime Team.

“Incredibly, badger persecution is still practised in North Wales and we will continue to work with partners in tackling abhorrent incidents such as these.”

It comes as MPs backed an end to the badger cull, which has seen over 140,000 of the animals killed since 2013 in a bid to curb bovine tuberculosis infections.

Some 38,642 badgers were killed last year and experts have said they fear another 140,000 will die before the cull is stopped.

Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs he backed plans to end the badger cull.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions, he said: “We do think that the badger cull has led to a reduction in the disease but nobody wants to continue with the cull of a protected species – beautiful mammals – indefinitely.

“I do think it is a good thing that we are accelerating other elements of our strategy, particularly vaccination.

“I think that is the right way forward and I do think we should begin, if we can, to phase out badger culling in this country.”

Anybody with information should contact officers at the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team via the website or by calling 101, quoting reference number Z121155. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

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