I WISH to thank the Environmental Health Officer who visited a farm opposite where I live. On Friday, February 17, he came out unannounced to the property and spoke to the owner about hens loose on the road.

Not once, not twice, but on numerous occasions and on a regular basis the hens were out when they should have been housed and kept inside due the H5N8 Avian Bird influenza outbreak in the UK in wild birds, hens, ducks and geese etc.

I was advised after speaking to the Environmental Health authorities to take video footage of the hens wandering loose on the road outside the property. This I did.

The Environmental Health Officer warned and advised the owner to take better care in looking after the hens in question and to keep them housed until February 28. I am pleased the owner has complied after the officers’ warning.

With the latest outbreak confirmed by Defra at a farm outside Haltwhistle in Northumberland, where 35 hens – some which were already dead to the H58N virus – were humanly culled, I wonder which area will be next.

I have been assured by Defra with all the outbreaks in the UK in wild birds and on farms, chicken and eggs are absolutely safe to eat’.

I was informed by an Environmental Health Officer that we are in a low risk area.

When I contacted Defra in York, a spokeswoman informed me that even though free range hens do not have to be housed or kept in doors after February 28, they are to be ‘’kept within the boundary of the property’’.

It’s good to see how professional these people are who work for the Environmental Health and Defra in taking their jobs seriously in ensuring the safety and protection of the public.

Alistair Rutter, Woodland, Bishop Auckland