A CASE of bird flu was confirmed at a Hampshire farm, near Upham, seven miles south-east of Winchester on Tuesday.

A cull was carried out and Defra insists the case was “low severity” and said measures were in place to contain the virus.

Access to the farm and 1km movement restrictions will remain in place until further tests have been carried out.

Experts are continuing to try to uncover the cause of the outbreak.

A Defra spokesman said: “Tests have confirmed the outbreak as a low severity H7 strain of the disease, a much less severe form than the H5N8 strain found at a Yorkshire duck farm in November. There are no links between the two cases.”

Chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens said: “Action was taken swiftly to contain the virus, but I urge other poultry producers to stay vigilant for any signs of the disease in their flocks.”