Almost 1.8 million farmed and captive birds have been culled in the past three months because of the spread of avian flu across the UK, the BBC has learned. There have been 33 outbreaks of the virus on farms and, on Wednesday, the government said bird-keepers in five more English counties would have to house flocks indoors from Sunday.

Dead wild birds recently sampled across several Lower Peninsula counties are suspected to be positive for bird flu.

Andrew Muir says the measures announced by his department seek to further protect the national flock.

Worcestershire keepers must house their birds and continue to follow the strictest security as bird flu continues to spread.