A PROTECTION zone has been set up around a North-East farm after officials confirmed that bird flu had been found in a flock of chickens.

The H5N8 strain of avian flu has been confirmed among chickens at a farm near Haltwhistle in Northumberland.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs confirmed that a three-kilometre protection zone has been put up around the infected property along with a six-mile surveillance zone.

An unknown number of the 35 birds in the flock have died and the rest have been put down by vets.

An investigation is now underway to determine the source of the infection.

The Haltwhistle farm is the first new case of the avian flu outbreak to be reported in the last 10 days, following a case at a farm in East Anglia.

However, health officials stressed that the risk to the public was “very low”.

Paul Davison, from Public Health England North East, said: “Our local team is following up the people who have had contact with the poultry which tested positive.

“This is to offer public health advice and antivirals as appropriate, as is standard practice.

“Our advice regarding contact with wild birds and poultry remains the same, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after coming into contact with any animal and do not touch any sick or dead birds.”