A ban on chickens and ducks imposed at the South of England Show after a bird flu outbreak in Wales, has been lifted.

The South of England Show is held every year at Ardingly by the South of England Agricultural Society which was founded in 1967.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had ruled that the birds could not be shown at next week's South of England Show at Ardingley, although geese, turkeys and pigeons were allowed.

But Defra has now said the restriction has been lifted.

A spokeswoman said: "There are now no restrictions. Organisers will be under the general condions of their licence."

The ban would have hit the annual festival hard as the birds are a popular draw with children allowed to handle small farmyard animals.

Sylvia Brown, chairwoman of the shoe's fur and feather committee, said the ban would have meant notifying around 100 people and returning cheques.

Bird flu has been confirmed on a smallholding in Conwy, Wales, but tests have since proved negative on a Llyn peninsula farm.

The first case of avian flu in Wales was confirmed on May 24 among chickens on a smallholding near Corwen in Denbighshire.

The National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHSW) has said the health risk to the general public is low.

In its latest bulletin on Saturday, it said the number of people - 252 - who may have had contact with the avian flu remained unchanged for the previous two days.

Most were now outside of the incubation period.

Dr Marion Lyons, consultant in communicable disease control for the NPHSW said they remained vigilant.

She said: "There are 237 people where there is now no risk at all of infection, or further infection, with this avian flu virus.

"This is very reassuring to them. It is also very reassuring to us because it demonstrates that the already low risk of spread is confirmed."

The South of England Show, now in its 40th year, will still go ahead between Thursday, June 7 and Saturday, June 9.

Local food and drink will be available as well as plenty of entertainment including a motorcycle display team.