West Somerset’s MP has urged all poultry keepers to monitor their flocks carefully for signs of avian flu after ministers this week widened disease control zones to cover the whole UK.

Ian Liddell-Grainger says it is vital that even backyard chickens are kept under close surveillance as the country battles an unprecedentedly large outbreak of the disease.

This week ministers have widened disease control zones - previously in force in selected areas - to cover the whole of the UK.

At the moment they have no plans to extend regional orders currently in force in Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex requiring all poultry to be housed - though this cannot be ruled out.

But under the terms of the protection zone poultry owners must immediately notify Defra’s Rural Services helpline on 03000 200 301 if they suspect avian flu in their flocks.

Anyone finding a dead wild bird should contact the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 unless it is clear that the cause of death is trauma.

Avian flu - also raging through Europe - has already devastated poultry flocks across the country and forced the slaughter of thousands of game birds. Shoots which have not so far been affected have introduced strict biosecurity controls on the movement of people and vehicles.

Mr Liddell-Grainger, MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset, said the highest levels of vigilance were now required.

“Unfortunately there is little we can do at the moment to combat the transmission of the disease by wild birds - though as a last resort the housing of all poultry flocks could be ordered at some point,” he said.

“But even people who only keep a couple of chickens in a garden run clearly now have a duty to check on the birds’ health daily and to report any suspicious symptoms.

“Getting on top of an outbreak as soon as it appears may help us avoid compulsory housing - but only if everyone co-operates.”