Bird flu: All poultry and captive birds must be kept indoors following outbreaks
All bird keepers must make sure their animals, including ducks, turkeys and chickens, are kept indoors from today following a rapid rise in bird flu cases.
The warning comes following a number of outbreaks in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
Officials hope these measures will protect poultry and captive birds from avian influenza.
A 10km temporary control zone has also been introduced around Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire following an outbreak on a poultry farm in the area.
It restricts animal movements and visits within the control zone to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
From today, all bird keepers are being asked to follow strict biosecurity measures in order to limit the spread and eradicate the disease.
The rules will apply to everyone, from farms with large broiler units to people who keep a few chickens in their back garden.
Abbey Park's pet corner in Leicester has temporarily closed to help stop the spread.
Sam Wortly, who is a bird keeper there, told ITV Central: "I feel a bit upset actually because all of ours are rescue ones it seems a shame to put them back inside the cages, but it's for their welfare as well."
She said: "But it's only a two metre by two-and-a-half metre shed that we're going to keep them in until we get a further date and can get them out - so it is such a shame.
"We all know how we felt in lockdown and they're going to feel the same all stuck together inside one room."
'I feel a bit upset actually because all of ours are rescue ones it seems a shame to put them back inside the cages', bird keeper tells ITV Central
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has now put 3km and 10km Temporary Control Zones in place surrounding the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading.
This means it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers in the affected area to follow increased biosecurity measures.
Movement of domestic poultry and other captive birds is not allowed, and all birds kept by people living within the control zone must be housed in enclosures which do not allow birds to fly in and out or have any contact with wild birds.
The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed the risk to public health is very low.
Meanwhile, the Food Standards Agency has said that bird flu poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked eggs and poultry are safe to eat.
Councillor Deborah Taylor, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for regulatory services, said: "We are working closely with DEFRA and the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) to help reduce the spread of the disease.
"Our Trading Standards officers will be visiting all properties within the control zone to identify bird owners, provide advice and ensure all flocks are identified for inspection by the APHA."