RSPB Scotland has called for an emergency restriction to be placed on wildfowling on the Solway for the rest of the season.

The emergency announcement comes as a necessary response to reduce the destructive impacts of bird flu.

According to new statistics, the winter period has recording the worst outbreak of the deadly disease – estimating a 38 per cent decline of the Svalbard barnacle goose from the previous year.

Paul Walton, head of habitats and species at RSPB Scotland, said: “We are in the grip of an unprecedented outbreak and unfortunately the Solway seems to be the epicentre of this in the UK.

"Our birds are suffering and they need an urgent reprieve to help them get through this winter and ensure that as many as possible of those remaining survive to make their migration back home to Scandinavia to breed in the summer.

"The best way we can do this is by reducing the cumulative impacts of disturbance, including by wildfowling," he said.

The public are also being asked to minimise any activities that could cause disturbance to birds, including keeping dogs under close control in the Solway coastal area.

"This action could help these populations during this period of catastrophic decline caused by the outbreak," he said.