Britain is to begin testing wild birds for avian flu following a European Union meeting on the growing threat from a deadly strain of the virus.

Scientists fear a lethal form of bird flu that can infect humans may be brought into the country by migrating waterfowl.

Senior European officials were meeting overnight (NZT) in Brussels to assess options for protecting domestic poultry from the virus.

The moves come after an increase in infections and the threat of the virus, which originated in Asia, spreading into Europe via Russia.

The British Government's chief vet was due to meet ornithologists to discuss a strategy for testing.

Fears about the spread of the H5N1 strain of avian flu - which has killed more than 60 people in Asia - have intensified since its discovery in migratory birds and domestic poultry in central Russia.

Scientists believe that migrating birds are increasing the global range of the virus, which is thought to have originated in China.

Experts warn that the virus could spread past the European side of the Ural mountains and birds migrating from Russia to Britain this autumn could spread avian flu to free-range British poultry.

The World Health Organisation has warned that the spread of the virus has brought the prospect of another human pandemic closer than at any time since 1968 - the year of the last flu pandemic.

Poultry farmers in the Netherlands have already moved their free-range stock indoors to prevent contact with wild birds that may be carrying the virus. German farmers have been told to take precautions by September 15.

The Dutch have taken the action unilaterally because of a devastating outbreak of a different strain of avian flu in 2003 which resulted in the slaughter of 30 million chickens.