Section of bird flu protection zone lifted
EPAA protection zone to control the rise of bird flu has been lifted.
Outbreaks of the disease were found near Stanhope, Bishop Auckland, in April, with birds on the premises humanely culled.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said a two-mile (3km) protection zone, which meant all poultry and captive birds in the area had to be housed, had now ended.
Defra said the area had now became part of a six-mile (10km) surveillance zone surrounding the premises.
The zones came into force in response to increased cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in wild birds, and new cases in poultry and kept birds.
Keepers in Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland and Tyneside have had to adhere to strict biosecurity rules following the rise in cases.
The rules are an extension of housing measures already in place across parts of Yorkshire, north-west England and Northern Ireland.