Dawlish News

Dawlish is on alert following the bird flu outbreak in Dorset and there are fears it could delay the famous black swans breeding programme.

Mayor of Dawlish, Rosalind Prowse, said the town, famous for its wild birds and waterfowl including four black swans, would be on standby over the weekend.The move comes after an outbreak of the virulent H5N1 strain of avian flu killed three mute swans in Dorset this week.

Derek Porter, the waterfowl warden for Dawlish, said he was 'praying' the virus would not spread.