A FARM shop and butchery based in the Meon Valley is urging families to place their Christmas meat orders in advance amid the nationwide bird flu outbreak. 

Westlands Farm Shop, near Wickham, has reassured customers that if they place their turkey order early, the family business will be able to secure their Christmas dinner centrepieces despite the shortage.

Due to the current bird flu outbreak, farmers across the UK have had to cull many of their flock, meaning there could be a much higher demand on local turkey supplies. 

According to the British Poultry Council (BPC) half of the free-range turkeys produced for Christmas in the UK have already been killed in the bird flu epidemic.

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At the end of November, the council’s chief executive Richard Griffiths told the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee that 1.6m birds have been culled, affecting nearly 36 per cent of poultry farms.

Turkey farmers and food retailers such as Westlands Farm Shop have been left in fear of a shortage. Nevertheless, the general manager of Westlands Farm Shop, Harry King, remains confident they will be able to supply turkey orders to all their customers as long as they get their order in early.

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Mr King said: “The nationwide outbreak is certainly putting pressure on turkey supplies and the demand is rising. We’ve seen brisk trade from people placing their Christmas meat orders in good time ahead of Christmas and have already sold over half of our festive birds.

“Because of the uncertainty on supply this year, it is more important than ever to place orders as early as you can. 

“However, if Christmas orders change at the last minute, we will have turkeys and Christmas meat available to order up until the last few days before Christmas day. We will always be able to source something for everyone.” 

The farm shop source their turkeys from a local farm in Portsdown Hill. Westlands has a range of Christmas meat available including turkey, lamb, duck, ham and pork.

For more go to westlandsfarmshop.co.uk.