A further 1,000 pheasants near Preston have been confirmed as having avian flu.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said a premises linked to an initial avian flu outbreak also had the disease.

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On Wednesday (25 January) a farm in Piling had an exclusion zone declared when a strain of H5N8 was discovered.

The farm remains on lock-down with 10,000 birds due to be culled – and the 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone in place.

A statement from Defra said: “This case was proactively identified as part of a routine investigation of premises traced as a result of confirmation of the disease in Lancashire earlier this week. There is a business link between the two premises.

“The flock is estimated to contain approximately 1,000 birds. A number have died and laboratory results of samples taken were positive for H5N8. The remaining birds at the premises are being humanely culled. A full investigation is under way to determine the source of the infection and related premises have been placed under restrictions which will remain in place until all investigations are complete.”

Public Health England advises that the risk to public health from the virus is very low and the Food Standards Agency is clear that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.