ABBOTSBURY Swannery's boss has his fingers crossed for a normal year' as they open their doors to the public tomorrow.

This comes after a nightmare few months for the famous sanctuary. A bird flu outbreak in January was followed by a storm earlier this week which flooded the grounds and destroyed 80 nests.

The swannery has been sealed off to the public since January 10 when three dead mute swans tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus.

In total 10 swans and one Canada goose tested positive for the virus in the nine weeks that followed.

Despite the last case being confirmed on February 29, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs has given the swannery the all clear to open as planned tomorrow.

John Houston, the general manager of Abbotsbury Tourism, said he is delighted that the swannery can reopen.

He said: "Defra and the Health Protection Agency have assured us that by opening we are not posing any threat to human life or local poultry businesses."

He added: "I have my fingers crossed that we are now going to have a reasonable and normal year.

"I think we have had enough and hopefully it is now going to be a lovely summer where we will catch the hatching in May and people will come and enjoy our new willow maze which is the largest maze in the area."

Visitors to the swannery will be able to see the feeding of up to 600 swans at noon and 4pm each day.

The swannery will open to the public at 10am tomorrow.

For more information contact 01305 871858.