DORSET Council has issued a warning to bird keepers amid a recent breakout in bird flu.

The council have said that from Monday, November 29 all poultry and captive birds must be housed to protect them from avian influenza.

The new housing measures mean that it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK to keep their birds indoors and to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread of and eradicate the disease.

Bird keepers must continue taking extra precautions to keep their flocks safe. This includes regularly cleaning and disinfecting equipment, clothing and vehicles when entering or exiting sites and limiting access to non-essential workers or visitors.