TURKEY is proving more popular than ever in Worcestershire this Christmas, despite the threat of bird flu last month.

Demand for the traditional Christmas dinner is very high and many local suppliers have already sold out.

Peter Surman, an organic farmer from Upton-on-Severn, said: "We sold out three weeks ago. It has been very buoyant and we cannot satisfy the demand."

He has produced 250 birds this year. "It is not a huge number but they are organic and free range. The margins are very low but the demand has been fantastic."

Mr Surman's business, which includes organic beef and milk, was badly affected by this year's floods when he lost 40 per cent of his winter feed for his animals, which drove his profits down.

Checketts butchers, of Ombersley, sold out of turkeys early this year and David Checketts believes people are trying to support local farmers.

"We have completely sold out. We have been trying to get some more. They are all from Worcestershire producers. We have sold 300 white barn-reared turkeys from Caldecott's at Wythall and 200 outdoor-reared free range turkeys from Judy Goodman at Great Witley.

"We usually have some left a week before Christmas. We are definitely selling more. We are up on what we expected to sell and that is very encouraging. They are all locally reared."

He said there was also a high demand for geese and cockerels.

Anne Caldecott, who has about 45,000 white and bronze turkeys said: "I am generally pleased with how sales are going and it has certainly picked up. I have had many comments that people want farm reared birds from their region and we obviously love it when people buy locally."

The National Farmers Union has set up a website, www.ukturkeys.co.uk, giving information about turkey breeds and producers. it also includes tips on how to cook the perfect roast turkey and creative ways of using the leftovers.

People can also download two "gobble, gobble," ringtones and there is fun information about turkeys and farming