AN APPEAL to help following the outbreak of Avian flu in Dawlish has raised almost £1,000 in 24 hours.

Since the launch of the Go Fund Me by Alfie Binyon yesterday morning, donations have reached £950.

The fundraiser aims to fund a full deep clean of the waterfowl area and eventually support the introduction of new birds once it is safe to do so.

It comes after the cull of up to 50 birds in the Dawlish aviary after a number of birds were confirmed to have contracted the highly pathogenic Avian Flu (H5N1).

The birds, which included tufted ducks, mandarins and shelducks as well as varieties of geese, had to be humanely culled which has devastated residents and Dawlish Town Council.

At least five birds in the aviary had already died as had several of the famous black swans before the tests confirmed it was Avian Flu.

However, birds which are out on Dawlish Water, including the two new cygnets, were not included in the cull and will continue to be closely monitored according to guidance by the Animal and Plant Health Agency.