THE number of dead swans now found at Abbotsbury - where bird flu has been confirmed - has risen to nine.

Test results are expected today on up to six birds found close to the Swannery where three dead wild swans were found infected with the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The death toll increased yesterday as details emerged of other swans found dead along the Fleet - including two yesterday.

Tests are being carried out on the dead birds at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Wey-bridge, Surrey.

Abbotsbury Tourism general manager John Houston said: "We also had two more dead swans identified on Thursday night, one near Moonfleet and one near Abbotsbury.

"They were collected on Friday morning and I heard on Friday afternoon that two other swans were found dead at different parts of the Fleet near Abbotsbury.

"The latest four finds have all been bagged and were due to be taken away for testing by officials from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

"It is too early to say if they died because of bird flu."

Mr Houston sounded a note of caution and said none of the six new deaths had been confirmed as bird flu and that the number of dead swans found so far was well within Abbotsbury's normal mortality rates for January when up to 30 swans might be expected to die naturally.

Mr Houston said: "Defra has again stressed that similar outbreaks of bird flu among populations of wild duck saw them suffer low losses and quickly develop an immunity to bird flu.

"We are hoping that our swans will do the same and that we are not going to lose this ancient herd. All precautions are being maintained and we are keeping a close watch on the Fleet on a daily basis."

A Defra spokesman said: "As soon as results are available, these will be published."

Neighbouring farmers hit out over handling of outbreak

POULTRY farmer Nicky Ives today hit out at the Government for failing to give more warning of Dorset's bird flu outbreak.

She said she was disappointed that they weren't told of the cases at Abbotsbury Swannery earlier.

Mrs Ives and her family run a free-range egg business at Vurlands Farm in Swyre, less than four miles from the swannery.

She says they were given just 24 hours to lock up 6,000 chickens by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Mrs Ives said: "It would have been helpful to have heard from Defra earlier.

"They had been testing for two days before the media knew about this.

"It would have been helpful if they had told us they were testing and asked us to be ready to take our chickens inside.

"But we didn't hear from them until after the media which is disappointing."

Mrs Ives said that shutting up so many chickens on Thursday had been a huge' job.

Mrs Ives said: "We would like a bit more information. Defra have given us no further advice, except to inform us we are inside the restriction zone.

"They are doing their best in very difficult circumstances but we don't know how long this is for as they haven't given us any timescale."

Mrs Ives added: "This is very worrying. My husband is very stressed.

"We are a very traditional free range farm and our chickens roam all the time.

"It's going to be difficult to have them shut in."

The business, called Coastal Eggs, has been operating for eight-and-a-half years and includes the Egg Cup Tea Rooms, off Coastal Road.

Mrs Ives said: "We have now got biosecurity measures in place.

"We have disinfectant mats everywhere and no-one except my sons who work on the farm are allowed here.

"We have been given permission to keep our tea rooms open though which is very reassuring. It would have been quite scary if we had to close that."

Mrs Ives' daughter Abbi Lister, who works at the tea rooms, said the family is pulling together to each do their bit.

She added: "This means a lot of extra work for us having to take all the feeders and drinkers inside.

"We are being a lot more vigilant and are all carrying out checks on the chickens.

"We were disappointed that we heard about it through the BBC before we heard from Defra.

"But we're just seeing what happens now and are keeping our fingers crossed."

One supplier of Vurlands Farm eggs is Washingpool Farm shop in Bridport.

The business also homes ducks, moorhens, swans, geese, buzzards and kingfishers in its pond.

Manager Simon Holland said Dorset's farming world had not taken such a blow since the foot and mouth outbreak in 2000.

He said: "We are worried for all of our producers and our thoughts go out to them."

He said the farm had chosen to lock up pet chickens despite being outside the control area.

"We are following Defra's recommendations," he added.

An Abbotsbury chicken keeper living 500 yards from the swannery also said he was disappointed with the Government's failure to keep him informed of the situation.

Graham Hutchings, 45, who keeps 70 chickens at his home, said: "The birds are registered with Defra, and they are supposed to keep in touch with me about what is happening.

"I'm just around the corner from it, but I feel quite isolated. We're supposed to be having someone to come and check them, but I haven't seen anyone yet."

A Defra spokesman said: "We do not and would not confirm disease until full and final results have been received.

"Information packs will be delivered to poultry keepers in the Control Area and keepers can call the Defra Helpline on 08459 33 55 77 or the Animal Health recorded information line for the latest updates on 0844 884 4600."

Swannery workers await test results

SWANNERY workers are remaining positive during an agonising two-day wait for test results from more swans found dead along the Fleet.

Site manager John Houston said the mood was upbeat at Abbotsbury Swannery - home to 800 wild swans - while staff wait to hear if the dead birds had contracted the H5N1 flu virus.

But the swans are less likely to have died of bird flu because they were found at opposite ends of the beach, Mr Houston said.

He added: "January is the time of year when we do get natural wastage.

"It's not unusual for birds to die in the winter because of natural causes.

"I'm hoping it will be positive news we get back."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has also given Mr Houston some valuable reassurance since the outbreak.

Mr Houston said: "The good news is the swans are definitely not going to be culled.

"I was told by Defra that they've seen outbreaks in wild ducks, but the ducks have built up immunity to the virus.

"If that happens here, then it will be ideal because we can carry on as normal."

Staff are keeping their fingers crossed that it will be business as usual when it's time for the swannery to re-open for the summer, Mr Houston added.

"We hope to be opening as normal in March. These birds have been here for thousands of years and it would be so sad if we lose them.

"When we first heard the news, we were all very upset and distraught about the swans. This was our worst nightmare.

"But with the calm professional advice we've had from Defra, we've learned that it's not the end of the world."

Twelve workers at the swannery were given basic flu jabs yesterday and have begun a course of Tamiflu tablets.

Mr Houston, who is also general manager of Abbotsbury Tourism Ltd, said he was very pleased with all the local support the swannery has had from the village.

He added: "It seems like everyone is hoping we can get through this.

"And if there are no more positive test results in 21 days then we're in the clear."