Around Dorset

A total of 11 birds in and around the swannery tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The first cases were confirmed on Wednesday 16 January and since then a total of 10 swans have been diagnosed, along with a Canadian goose found half a mile away on Chesil Beach.

After the initial discovery, manager of Abbotsbury Swannery John Houston had told BBC Radio Solent: "We're confident we will get on top of this disease and save our wonderful herd of swans."

Restricted areas

One of the restrictions put in place after the initial outbreak had been lifted but with the discovery of the diseased goose on February 29, the wild bird control area was re-imposed.

It extended from Abbotsbury to Weymouth and Portland and the restriction meant poultry couldn't be moved and that wild birds must be kept apart from birds in captivity.

The larger monitoring area, covering a large part of the county has now been lifted.

Reopening

Despite the setback, the world famous tourist attraction has been told it can re-open for the summer season.

Officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs DEFRA have said that re-opening the swannery is unlikely to cause the disease to spread.

Abbotsbury Swannery

Abbotsbury Swannery is one of the county's most popular and unique attractions. Thousands of visitors come to see the flock of tame swans who have lived around the site for 700 years.

The Dorset swans are renowned for being friendly, having become used to the of people who visit the Swannery, especially around hatching time in the late spring.

The swans at Abbotsbury are completely free to come and go although they are all tagged at birth to monitor their movements and health. In the winter many move off a few miles down Chesil Beach to find more weed to eat.