CONCERNS have been raised that Canada geese grazing in Poole Park could pose a bird flu risk to humans.

The large geese, which fly little further than Brownsea Island, could become infected there by migrating birds, a resident has claimed.

"If the geese catch the avian flu from the migrating birds and then leave their infected mess in the park, children will be at risk," said Mike Malone of Durrant Road.

"I appreciate the risk may by small but I feel that serious consideration should be given to stopping the movement of these birds either by clipping their wings or by culling," he said. "We cannot afford to ignore the problem."

Jeff Morley, the Borough of Poole's team manager for environmental and consumer protection, said: "They don't present any more of a risk than any other bird."

He said the council was in close contact with Defra and the Health Protection Agency, who were monitoring avian flu through the countries of Eastern Europe.

"The fact is the chances of humans catching it is very low, always has been," he said. It has only occurred through people living alongside their domestic fowl, he said.

Wild birds which arrive to winter in Poole Harbour fly in from northern countries, not eastern ones.

"There is no reason to think we are any more at risk than anywhere else in the country," said Mr Morley.

He said they were receiving increasing reports from residents of individual birds being found dead, but Defra's advice was that the virus, if it arrived, would affect large numbers of birds.

"The advice from the Friends of Poole Park - and they have notices up - is please don't feed the Canada geese.

"The same approach applies. We can't go one step further and get rid of them," he said.

The RSPB has said there are no instances of people catching the disease from wild birds but advises against touching any sick or dead birds, their droppings or water near them.

There is information on avian flu and links to other sites on boroughofpoole.com under environmental and consumer protection.