Birds to be tested for botulism

Many birds were found dead or paralysed on the lakeside

Vets in Cumbria are beginning tests on hundreds of dead birds to confirm they died from botulism.

RSPCA inspectors have culling hundreds of birds found around Ullswater, in the Lake District.

It was alerted after scores of mainly black-headed gulls were found dead or sick.

Humans are not thought to be in danger, as the disease cannot be spread by touching or being close to infected birds.

But people have been warned not to touch the birds.

'Very distressing'

The Defra spokesman said: It's not unusual for there to be an avian botulism outbreak in the UK, though in this case a lot of birds were affected."

He added: "It's very distressing for the birds as they suffer flaccid paralysis and can't move.

"It can take them days to die. Although it is not always fatal, most birds die or get picked off by predators.

"Obviously it is also distressing for members of the public to see them in that state."

Experts at Defra's Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Penrith will carry out the post mortem examinations on the birds.

Avian botulism is more often seen in warmer weather and can be caused by birds feeding on rotting food.