Some of the restrictions placed around a farm near Haltwhistle hit by a highly-contagious strain of bird flu have been lifted.

Government vets confirmed yesterday a 10km Surveillance Zone put in place around the infected premises to limit the risk of the disease spreading had been removed.

The H5N8 avian flu strain was confirmed in a small flock of around 35 chickens on the farm close to the town, east of Cumbria back in February.

The UK's Chief Veterinary Officer placed a 3km protection zone and a 10km surveillance zone around the farm while a full investigation was carried out to determine the source of the infection.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the risk from bird flu in wild birds remains heightened and strict disease control measures remain in place.

All poultry keepers, whether they have commercial flocks or just a few birds in a backyard flock, are required by law to follow strict biosecurity precautions, with extra rules for anyone who keeps more than 500 birds.

The disease has led to thousands of free-range hens in the county have been forced to spend weeks housed under government orders to prevent the spread of the disease.

But this means that eggs from those hens have been downgraded to "barn produced" because of the 12-week cut off by EU law.