Bird flu fears for 10,000 Christmas dinners

Goodman's Geese produces 10,000 birds for Christmas

A farmer who produces turkey and geese for Christmas said the threat posed by the spread of bird flu was "a continual worry".

Compulsory housing rules for poultry, already in place in parts of the North, Midlands and East of England, are extended to the whole of England from 00:01 GMT on Thursday.

The rules apply to keepers of more than 50 birds and sellers of poultry products, and will remain in place until further notice, according to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).

Andrew Goodman from Goodman's Geese in Great Witley, Worcestershire, said an outbreak on the farm would mean "10,000 Christmas lunches disappearing".

The virus, which spreads through contaminated feed and water or bird droppings and saliva has been confirmed in recent days at units in North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Devon and East Sussex.

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone, requiring strict biosecurity and hygiene measures, is currently in place across Great Britain.

Describing the impact of an outbreak, Mr Goodman said: "You're finished basically. If we got it, all the birds would be slaughtered on the farm and then, with our free-range system, you're not allowed to restock for 12 months.

"Which would mean no birds for Christmas next year."

Andrew Goodman, who runs Goodman's Geese in Worcester, described the threat of bird flu as a "constant worry"

The new housing rules would require extra work and bedding to keep his birds locked down, Mr Goodman explained.

He added enhanced biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the virus included disinfecting vehicles driving into the yard, and foot dips in every pen.

"Hopefully we will be alright. We'll do everything we can to prevent it," he said.

"We're in a fairly good area, we haven't got a large body of water near us. So we haven't got that water fowl risk of coming onto the farm.

"It's frightening every time you come down in the morning to check the birds, you just think 'oh hell'. You learn to live with it but it does play on your mind quite a bit."