ROCK legend Brian May will be taking a break from composing ear-shattering guitar riffs to attend an animal welfare meeting in Stroud next week.

The Queen guitarist and animal rights campaigner, famous for iconic hits including We Will Rock You and Fat Bottomed Girls, will be attending the open meeting held by the Badger Trust to discuss the government’s plans to cull the badger population to stop the spread of tuberculosis in cattle.

Retired head of wildlife diseases research at the Central Science Laboratory Dr Chris Cheeseman will be speaking at the meeting, giving his expert opinion on the government’s plans.

“It is important for people to understand that the science does not support badger culling,” he said.

Also speaking at the meeting will be Stroud District Councillor David Drew, who said he was pleased so much interest had been expressed in the cause.

“Following the decision of Stroud District Council to ban any badger culling on its land and to join the excellent Stroud 100 Campaign, we now need to take stock and see how best we can organise to stop the backward move of allowing culling in West Gloucestershire,” he said.

“Hopefully people will come along to express how best this can be achieved.”

Tony Dean of Gloucestershire Badger Group and the organisers of the Stroud 100 campaign will also be speaking at the meeting at the Old Town Hall, The Shambles, Stroud on Saturday June 2.

Admission to the meeting, which will run from 10.30 am to 12.30pm, is free and refreshments will be provided.

For more information call 07840 529 218 or email chrisgale41@btinternet.com