All bird-keepers must make sure their animals are kept indoors following a rapid rise in bird flu cases, including one in Cumbria.

The warning comes following a number of outbreaks around the country, including one at Silecroft, Copeland, which saw 12,000 hens culled, when devastating avian influenza was discovered on a farm.

The measures include ducks, turkeys and chickens.

David Brass, from family-owned The Lakes Free Range Egg Company, based at Stainton, near Penrith, said they had anticipated the housing order and were working with all of their producers based in Cumbria to ensure the highest levels of biosecurity remain in place.

"The best way to keep avian flu out of flocks is to have really strong biosecurity measures – something that our producers do as a matter of principal," David told the News & Star.

"Ahead of the order we have already housed our hens and, at the same time, we have been increasing the number of daily checks in our hen houses and increasing the amount of enrichment too.

"Things like CDs work well because they are shiny and they enjoy pecking them. We also have hay nets which also help keep them entertained."

The British Free Range Egg Producers Association said CEO Robert Gooch said they had been warning producers that the threat from avian influenza was likely to be very high this winter, and a sharp rise in the number of cases in recent days is 'extremely concerning'.

"An outbreak of avian influenza results in the mandatory culling of birds and causes a huge amount of emotional and financial distress for farmers, their families and their staff," he said.

"Protecting hen welfare is their main priority and farms have taken their biosecurity to the highest possible level, but it has become increasingly clear that the threat of further outbreaks is too high."

RSPCA head vet Jocelyn Toner said they ask that people do not bring sick or dead birds into their centres, hospitals or veterinary establishments.

She said: "Avian influenza is a notifiable, infectious disease that affects wild, captive and commercially-raised birds.

"It is taken very seriously as it is devastating to birds and spreads very fast.

"Bird flu is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is low."

Cumbria County Council urged people not to touch dead birds and said further testing was under way after the discovery of the outbreak of bird flu at Silecroft, Copeland several days ago.

The authority said a three-kilometre protection zone and 10-kilometre surveillance zone had been introduced following the cases being identified.