DEVASTATING news for a local business was announced on Monday, November 3.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency confirmed that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)(HPAI) H5N1 was confirmed in a large commercial poultry unit near Crediton.

A 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been declared around the premises.

All poultry on the premises will be humanely culled, which will be a great loss to the business.

Disease control restrictions are now in force which affect not only the business and poultry owners within the zones but also prevents gatherings of poultry, release of game, isolation of poultry and other captive birds and much more.

Stay updated regarding bird flu through the GOV.UK website.