Workers laid off at bird flu farm in UK

Hundreds of workers at the Bernard Matthews factory in Norfolk face being laid off in the wake of the bird flu outbreak, it was revealed today.

Around 130 employees at the Norfolk site will be stood down for 20 days from tomorrow, but the firm is preparing to lay off a total of 500 workers, according to the Transport and General Workers Union.

Details were given to the workers today and are expected to be announced to MPs later by Environment Secretary David Miliband.