Norfolk tern colony decimated by bird flu

Several hundred Sandwich Terns have been lost to bird flu at a nature reserve in Norfolk.

The breeding colony of terns at Scolt Head Island, near Brancaster, may have lost three-quarters of its chicks to the virus, say experts. Its warden has taken to Twitter to post images of binbags of carcasses and posed the question: "Are we witnessing the collapse of seabird colonies around the North Sea?"

A Sandwich Tern bathes in the water at Scolt Head Island, where bird flu has decimated the breeding colony (Baz Scampion).

The nature reserve off the North Norfolk coast, managed under lease by Natural England, is home to about 4,000 breeding pairs of Sandwich Terns. Defra said it was aware dead terns found at Scolt Head Island had tested positive for bird flu. It added it was working with groups including the RSPB and Natural England to study its impact.

Bird flu is devastating several species along the UK coastline. The government confirmed the outbreak and said it was monitoring the effect of bird flu on wild species.