A Scottish pet shop is asking customers to stop buying wild bird food in an attempt to halt the spread of avian flu.

Bird feed is normally a top seller for Petcayr By T & G Hutchison Pet Supplies in Ayr but after local council chiefs announced they had collected 500 dead birds from South Ayrshire beaches, the pet shop owners launched their appeal to customers.

On the pet shop’s Facebook page owner Catherine Hutchinson said: “This is so bad for business but we feel duty bound to get this information out to our customers.

“Avian flu has been detected in the bird population in Ayr, Prestwick and Troon. 

“Feeding the wild birds means that they congregate in one area, making the disease much easier to pass around.

“No one looking after their garden bird population wants to see their feathered friends come to harm so bird table hygiene, which is always very important, is now of huge importance and it may be worth considering just not feeding your garden birds until this outbreak is over. 

“It’s also of huge importance not to let your dogs have the opportunity to come into contact with bird carcasses as many are washing up on the beach.”

Picture taken from the store’s Facebook page.