A common sense approach to bio-security by commercial and domestic poultry keepers in Pembrokeshire could keep the county free of the deadliest strain of bird flu.

Confirmation that the H5N1 virus has reached the UK is worrying for breeders like Phyllis Dawson, one of hundreds of people in the county who keep a handful of hens in their gardens.

But Mrs Dawson, of The Brambles, St Twynnells, blamed the media for fanning the flames of hysteria.

She said a combination of common sense and good bio-security were needed, not scaremongering.

Her flock is not registered - this is only necessary for keepers with more than 50 birds - but she has health advice bulletins from Defra because she also has a registered goat flock. This advice centres on feeding, hygiene and housing poultry.

"If people just use common sense I can't see that there will be a problem,'' said Mrs Dawson. "As long as people aren't over stocked they can easily accommodate birds inside for a number of weeks, although for the commercial producer the situation is not as straightforward."

Just one mile from Mrs Dawson's home, Edward and Betty Morris have been producing turkeys for the Christmas market for 40 years. Every July, they source their poults from Lincolnshire. They worry if bird flu hits there, they won't be able to buy birds.

"We don't want to source birds from France because we like to buy British but there are only two or three breeders in the country and they are mostly in the Essex area," said Mr Morris, vice-chairman of the Welsh Turkey Breeders Association.

If this situation arises it will have a "devastating impact" on his business, he admitted, adding: "We run a mixed farming enterprise and turkeys are an important part of our income."

Their turkey shed is a big, open barn which currently houses cattle. While the Morris's have secured the shed to prevent birds getting in, more improvements will be needed to meet Defra requirements "We will have to block up the vents and put up more wire. It will be an extra cost to us but it's something we have to do," Mr Morris said.