UPDATE: Cull of 170,000 birds at Lancashire farm in suspected bird flu outbreak

Some 170,000 birds are being culled at a Lancashire poultry farm following a suspected case of bird flu.
The scene of an earlier outbreak of bird flu last NovemberThe scene of an earlier outbreak of bird flu last November
The scene of an earlier outbreak of bird flu last November

A 10km temporary control zone has been set up around Goosnargh, banning the movement of all animals from the farm and other poultry farms in the zone. The farm at the centre of the suspected outbreak has not been named. Chief Vet Nigel Gibbens moved to reassure the public saying: “The advice from Public Health England is that the risk to public health is very low. The Food Standards Agency has said there is no food safety risk for consumers.”

The ban will also hit exhibitors at tomorrow’s Goosnargh and Longridge show, where 400 birds were due to be shown, with exhibitors travelling from locations ranging from Cheshire. Yorkshire and Lincolnshire to Wales.

Farmers across the county were placed on alert when DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs issued a temporary movement restriction notice late on Friday afternoon.