Suspected bird flu found in water park's swans

The suspected outbreak came at the popular Sale Water Park

A suspected outbreak of bird flu that killed up to 15 swans has been discovered at a popular park in Greater Manchester.

Emergency services were called to Sale Water Park just before midday on Saturday to help the RSPCA rescue two swans believed to be carrying the disease.

Trafford Council said tests were under way to confirm the presence of the virus in the birds, who were euthanised by the RSPCA.

The animal rescue charity said up to 15 swans with suspected avian flu at Sale Water Park had recently died or had to be humanely euthanised.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that crews from Stretford and Wythenshawe were also at the scene for about an hour on Saturday.

'Risk very low'

The fire service said the ailing swans had become stuck in shallow, muddy water and were retrieved using a raft before being euthanised at the scene.

Bird flu is a disease caused by a virus that infects birds and sometimes other animals, such as foxes, seals and otters.

The strain, circulating among wild birds worldwide,is a type of the virus known as H5N1, which emerged in China in the late 1990s.

Trafford Council said: "The risk to the general public's health is very low, but we are urging people to be vigilant when enjoying the water park.

"Bird flu has been detected in a number of wild birds across Great Britain, including the north west of England.

"This is normal for this time of year as wild birds carry the disease when migrating to the UK from Europe and Asia."