STRICT safety procedures have today been outlined by the company responsible for disposing of the culled turkeys from the Suffolk farm hit by bird flu.

STRICT safety procedures have today been outlined by the company responsible for disposing of the culled turkeys from the Suffolk farm hit by bird flu.

John Pointon and Sons, based in Cheddleton, Staffordshire, have stringent procedures to ensure the HN51 virus does not spread.

Measures include:

N Transporting the birds' carcasses in leak-proof containers

N Rendering the birds, a process which includes heat treatment to kill micro-organisms, before their remains are incinerated

N Cleansing and disinfecting the vehicles involved in the operation

N Providing workers involved in moving and disposing of the birds with personal protection equipment and a Tamiflu vaccination.

A statement from the company said: “All aspects of the process are governed by stringent legislation which defines the maximum particle size, the cooking time, and minimum temperatures.

“Rendering has been chosen as the preferred method as it is the safest way to ensure that the virus is destroyed.”

Pointon and Sons also pointed out that it has much larger than normal rendering plants and the capacity to deal with the number of birds in question.

It is understood that a total of 11 lorries have so far made the journey from Suffolk to Staffordshire.