Police defend swine flu mask use

Police in Gloucester have defended a decision to kit officers out with masks for a raid at the home of a suspected swine flu victim.

Officers took the precautions while searching the property in Bloomfield Road in the city on Tuesday.

The officers wore blue and white face masks, gloves and overalls.

A Gloucestershire Police spokeswoman said: "It was a precaution at the time, but won't necessarily become standard practice."