POLICE have released a statement responding to claims that gun shots were fired at protesters in the badger cull zone.

In the statement the police said: "Gloucestershire Constabulary is aware of comments being made on social media regarding reports that during the evening of Monday, September 16, gun shots were fired at protesters by badger cull operators.

"We have established that fireworks were set off by the cull operators.

"There was no firearms operation taking place in that area at that time"