DROITWICH veterinary practises have begun to offer advice about 'bird flu' as concern now grows amongst animal carers in the town.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued town vets with advice sheets for staff and information leaflets for customers about the problem.

It is hoped that the leaflets and advice given by staff can help ease concern and prevent a problem or panic in the town and surrounding area.

One worried bird carer is Jan Harrigan from Worcestershire Swan Rescue Centre, based in Wychbold. She said: "Bird flu is a concern and something people need to be aware of. However, I think it is important that people don't panic about the problem. Hopefully the information given out will now help prevent that.

"There are a lot of diseases we need to look out for each year so we are open to any little bit of information available."

Advice from Defra to bird keepers about avian influenza (bird flu) includes to feed and water birds indoors to avoid contamination by wild birds and other animals, to make sure premises are tidy and clean and to keep visitors and their vehicles away from birds as far as possible.

A spokesman for the State Veterinary Service, which is based in Worcester, said: "Advice has been distributed through vets because they are usually the first point of call for bird keepers. Vets are the first people to come into contact with suspicions of the disease and really are on the frontline."

Avian influenza is a highly infectious disease affecting many species of birds, including commercial, wild and pet birds.

The most severe form of the disease was last confirmed in the United Kingdom in 1992. Recent outbreaks of a new form of the virus, H5N1, have arisen in the Far East and more recently in Eastern Europe.