ABBOTSBURY Swannery's hopes of reopening for Easter have been dashed after another bird tested positive for bird flu.

On the final day of the site's bird flu restrictions, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that a Canada goose collected on February 25 in the wild bird monitoring area tested positive for the lethal H5N1 virus.

The remains of the bird, the 11th to test positive, were found less than a kilometre from where the previous positive cases were collected at the swannery.

The goose was found in the eleventh hour for Abbotsbury Swannery, which was into the last day of its 28-day restriction period following the last sample that was found positive on January 29.

A new control zone will be imposed around the immediate area for 31 days, which means the swannery may not be able to reopen until March 31.

Swannery boss John Houston had been hoping to reopen on March 15 in time for Easter, one of the attraction's busiest times.

The last mute swan to be found with bird flu was confirmed on February 4.

A spokesman for Defra said the latest case was not 'unexpected' but the finding means the new control area will be in place until March 29. He added: "This was the last bird to be tested and in a way it means we are back to the beginning.

"Defra will be holding a meeting later next week to review the monitoring area but at present the original control area will be back in place.

"Defra's enhanced surveillance of wild birds in the area is continuing, including active patrols to look for dead wild birds.

"We are currently considering whether any additional restrictions are necessary in the area."

A Wild Bird Monitoring Area is currently in place around the affected area and poultry keepers in the area are reminded of the need to comply with existing restrictions, including the requirement to house or otherwise keep separate their birds from wild birds.

Defra is asking people to remain vigilant for signs of disease, reporting any suspicions immediately.

The control area means that from Portland Beach Road to Abbotsbury, shooting is banned.

The wild bird control area includes the whole of Weymouth and Portland and stretches from Osmington to West Bexington.

The wild bird monitoring area includes much of South Dorset in a rough arc from Durdle Door in the East, up to Dorchester and West to Burton Bradstock.

Richard Herringshaw, Dorset County Council's principal trading standards officer, said poultry keepers must stick to strict reinforced biosecurity measures.

He added: "I understand the new discovery is a difficult time for poultry keepers in the Abbotsbury and Weymouth areas.

"We are all working together to make sure the situation is contained as far as possible.

"Disinfectant should be available at entrances and exits to premises where birds are kept and people must not leave premises with clothing visibly soiled with mud, animal or bird faeces.

"Vehicles entering or leaving premises must not be visibly soiled with mud, animal or bird faeces and must have wheels and wheel arches disinfected."