However animal rights protesters are already threatening to disrupt the plan, promised in the Tory manifesto.

Mrs May has responsibility for ensuring public safety in the pilot areas, which are all likely to be in popular tourist destinations in the South West.

Already there are fears about activists being in danger if they try to disrupt marksmen, who will target badger setts in the early hours.

Peaceful protesters will picket farms and could target tourist hot spots.

Mrs May, who is under increasing pressure over police numbers, is understood to have raised concerns about the cull happening this year.

Also celebrities including Brian May and Chris Packham are against the cull and the public outcry could make Mrs Spelman very unpopular – especially if police time is wasted.

However following the u-turn over plans to sell off publicly owned forests and the continuing furore over reforms of the planning laws, any change in the plan would look bad for the Tories.

Defra insist that the cull should not require excessive policing as it will be carried out by professional marksmen in areas where the community has been consulted and given their consent.

A consultation is currently going on to finalise proposals for a cull.