THE Forestry Commission has confirmed it has culled a total of 153 boar in this year's cull and rangers have now stopped – other than dealing with injured boar or those causing a nuisance.

Ian Harvey, chief wildlife ranger, said: "Our target was 150 this year and we have achieved that in half the available time. People are saying they are declining in numbers but if we reached our target in half the time alloted, what does that tell you? There is no doubt whatsoever in my mind that their numbers are up."

In its first cull in 2008, the Commission culled 30, in 2009 the figure rose to 62 and 122 in 2010.

Meanwhile, rangers are continuing their night-time census in a bid to get an estimate of the population. Mr Harvey says this will stop in three or four weeks but will be renewed at the end of the winter.