A Captive Bird Monitoring Zone, which was placed around an avian flu infected residence in Buckley, has now been lifted.

The initial restriction zone was put in place on November 7 after the Interim Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Gavin Watkins, confirmed that highly pathogenic avian influenza was present in the area near Drury Lane.

Signs were placed by main roads in Flintshire marking the entry and exit into the 3km control zone.

If you’re in a captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone, you must: keep poultry and other captive birds housed and keep a record of all poultry or poultry eggs that enter or leave your premises, except eggs that are being moved direct to wholesale or retail premises to be sold.

The Leader: Area previously affected in FlintshireArea previously affected in Flintshire (Image: Map)

Flintshire Council has now reported: "Following successful completion of disease control activities within the zone, the Captive Bird Monitoring Control Zone has now been lifted.

"This revocation takes effect from 17:00 on 20 December 2022, thereby ending the measures imposed in the 3 kilometre Captive Bird (Monitoring) Controlled Zone centred on grid reference SJ3031163901, declared at 21.00 on 7 November 2022."

Despite this control zone being lifted new requirements affecting poultry came into place across the whole of Wales on December 2. 

The new measures mean all bird keepers in Wales must keep their birds indoors or otherwise separated from wild birds.

In addition to the mandatory housing of birds, keepers must also complete and act upon a bespoke biosecurity review of the premises where birds are kept.

This is to minimise the risk of the virus entering bird houses.