Strict restrictions put in place to stop the spread of bird flu have been lifted in north and west Cumbria.

From today there is no ban on gatherings of poultry in Carlisle, Eden, Allerdale and Copeland - paving the way for the likes of bird shows to be held.

But, Cumbria County Council's trading standards is advising keepers to continue following best practice on biosecurity, including minimising movement in and out of bird enclosures, cleaning footwear, keeping areas where birds live clean and tidy and feeding birds indoors.

Restrictions are being lifted across most of England from today.

But they will remain in place in Barrow and South Lakeland because of what's perceived to be "heightened risk" of the disease in those districts, classed as Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ).

A council spokesman explained: "The risks in Barrow in Furness and South Lakeland are considered higher because the area is home to significant wild waterfowl populations and there have been previous outbreaks in neighbouring counties.

"Recent cases in backyard flocks in Lancashire provide evidence that infection is still circulating in wild resident birds or present in the environment."