Brownsea Island nature reserve closes amid bird flu fear

Brownsea Island in in Poole Harbour will close "with immediate effect"

A nature reserve has shut down because of a suspected case of bird flu.

The nature reserve on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset, has closed "with immediate effect" while an investigation takes place.

"We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused and will provide an update once the situation has been fully investigated," a Dorset Wildlife Trust spokesperson said.

Visitors can still go to the part of the island run by the National Trust.

The island is home to a wide variety of birds. These include dunlin, kingfishers, common and sandwich terns, and oystercatchers.

Bird flu is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds. The NHS says in rare cases it can affect humans.

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