THE avian influenza housing order that has been imposed over the past three months could end as soon as March 1.

Robert Gooch, chief executive of the British Free Range Egg Producers Association, said: “Our members have coped fantastically with the unprecedented challenge of housing their birds.

"They have focused on the welfare of their flocks at all times and will be hugely relieved if they are able to let birds out again on March 1.

“We have lobbied hard for the UK governments to lift the housing order as soon as it is safe to do so to protect our members from losing their free range status.

“But there are those producers in the High Risk Area who will be forced to continue to house birds. They face the prospect of their eggs being downgraded which we estimate to cost businesses at least 20p per dozen."

All UK poultry has been housed since 7 December 2016. Lifting the order could be subject to change if there are further outbreaks or veterinary advice changes.