All bird keepers, from people with pet birds to farmers with huge flocks, are now required to follow strict hygiene measures imposed by the government - and in some counties, birds must be kept indoors.

A national Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) came into force for the whole of England and Scotland at noon on Saturday.

H5N1 was first identified as an avian flu strain that could infect humans in 1997 and has since claimed hundreds of lives.

England and Scotland have been placed under mandatory prevention zones amid an alarming surge in cases of bird flu.