Culls after more bird flu outbreaks discovered

Avian influenza was confirmed at commercial poultry premises (stock image)

More birds are to be culled after further cases of bird flu were discovered.

A second commercial poultry premises near Penrith in Cumbria was confirmed to have cases of avian influenza, following an outbreak in the area last week.

Discoveries were also made at a large premises near Bedale in North Yorkshire and in captive birds near Burscough, Lancashire, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said.

The poultry at the affected sites in Cumbria and North Yorkshire will be culled and protection zones have been put in place.

Defra said highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed at the sites.

Poultry and and captive birds within two-miles (3km) of the affected areas near Bedale and Penrith will need to be housed as part of a protection zone, Defra said.

A further six-mile (10km) surveillance zone was imposed meaning all poultry and eggs that leave or enter premises within the zone must be recorded.

In Lancashire, a two-mile (3km) captive bird monitoring zone was declared around the premises.