Specialist poultry auctioneer Fabian Eagle will be selling live birds this Saturday at Swaffham following the decision to allow markets to be held.

Specialist poultry auctioneer Fabian Eagle will be selling live birds this Saturday, February 15, at Swaffham following the decision to allow markets to be held.

Mr Eagle, who will be selling from 11am at the regular Saturday market, stressed that birds cannot be taken from the restricted zone in parts of Norfolk and Suffolk.

“Anyone who has birds outside the zone which runs along the A47 to Norwich and down the A140 to Ipswich can bring them to market.

“I must stress that the movement of birds of any type from the restricted zone is not allowed. And anyone with rabbits and poultry on the same holding can only move rabbits to market with a general licence,” said Mr Eagle, of North Pickenham, near Swaffham.

He said that live birds and poultry can now resume at the regular Wednesday market at Eldon Farm, near Mildenhall, which is held at 10.45am.

Defra has maintained the ban on bird gatherings within the 806sq mile zone, which broadly runs from the coast to Norwich and down the A140 to Ipswich.

William Heal, regional officer of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, welcomed the lifting of shooting restrictions in the 10km surveillance and 3km protection zone around the avian flu outbreak at Holton.

“We're delighted that Defra has made the decision. It means that pest and predator control in those areas can now take place,” he added.