The risk of further outbreaks of devastating bird flu still remains in Cumbria.

According to a newly-published report into the disease, which led to thousands of birds destroyed nationwide, all signs point to an increased risk of another outbreak of the deadly virus.

This is likely to increase, says the report released by Defra, in the weeks leading up to August and September and the start of the autumn wild bird migratory season.

With this in mind, government officials and farming officials say biosecurity is imperative in the battle against the disease.

West Cumbria farmer and National Farmers Union Cumbrian council delegate Alistair Mackintosh said: "The Avian Influenza risk has not gone away. All poultry keepers please ensure you continue to have very high standards of biosecurity in place. The risk remains out there."

Just last month strict restrictions put in place to stop the spread of bird flu were lifted in north and west Cumbria.

But while there was no ban on gatherings of poultry in Carlisle, Eden, Allerdale and Copeland, restrictions remain in place in Barrow and South Lakeland because of what was perceived to be "heightened risk" of the disease in those districts classed as Avian Influenza Prevention Zones (AIPZ).

The reason given for this was because the area is home to significant wild waterfowl populations and there had been previous outbreaks in neighbouring counties.

The Norman family, who farm on the outskirts of Carlisle, said while they have let all 32,000 of their hens out to roam, they were still following "very high standards of biosecurity all of the time".

"It is a worrying time. The risk of the disease is always going to be there," said Elaine Norman.

She added: "We are going to have to be vigilant and keep biosecurity up as much as possible. We know it is brought and spread by wild birds, so following biosecurity measures is vital."

The Defra epidemiology report into the recent bird flu outbreaks says there is still evidence that the AI strain is still circulating in Europe: "Therefore we consider that there is an increased risk of another outbreak occurring in poultry on individual premises depending on the level of biosecurity."

The report added: "The migration season for wild waterfowl arriving for wintering starts in August/September, and birds continue to arrive through to December.

"The birds generally inhabit wetland areas and estuaries over winter, are gregarious and mobile, particularly when foraging for food. They will visit poultry ranges for food, but are less likely to enter into poultry sheds."

The initial phase of the 2016-2017 outbreak of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza in the UK consisted of ten infected premises, including one at Haltwhistle on February 23 where 32 free-range hens were kept.

The report claims that the most likely cause of the poultry being infected with the AI virus was through direct or indirect contact with wild birds.

The NFU's chief poultry adviser, Gary Ford said prompt actions by Defra and government vets, and swift reporting of suspicion of bird flu by poultry keepers had meant that the disease had not spread beyond the initial infected premises.