OUTBREAKS of avian flu creeping closer to Keighley have prompted Keighley Town Council's allotments officer to issue a warning to allotment holders who keep poultry or other captive birds.

Lee Senior said the council is aware of instances of this disease as close as Gargrave and Addingham, adding that the town council is continuing to take advice from the Government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. (DEFRA)

He said: "It's essential that everyone complies with the latest DEFRA ruling.

"These measures have to be enforced in England by anyone keeping poultry and other captive birds, even as pets.

"They apply whether the birds are being kept domestically, on an allotment or a larger enclosure.

"Due to the seriousness of the situation, the town council will be issuing final warning letters to anyone who has birds on their allotment found not to be complying.

"Allotment holders keeping birds must ensure the birds are kept indoors, or take other practical steps to keep them separate from wild species.

"Birds should be moved into a suitable building, or if that isn’t possible sensible precautions must be taken, such as putting up netting to create a temporary enclosure and keeping food and water supplies inside where they can't be contaminated by wild birds.

"Even indoors there is still a risk of infection. So disinfect footwear and equipment and wash clothes and vehicles after contact.

"Good biosecurity must be practised to minimise the risk of infection spreading via items such as feed, clothing or equipment.

"And effective vermin control needs to be implemented around buildings where bird are kept."

People can contact DEFRA at gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-in-winter-2016-to-2017 or call its Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301 for up-to-date guidelines.