Dead birds discovered in a food market and a gutter have sparked bird flu fears.

A Portslade resident complained that the council would not remove a rotting bird stuck in their guttering.

In another case, traders were concerned when a dead bird was left for two days in Brighton's Open Market close to their stalls and a cafe.

Tracey Carron, a wholesaler and former market trader who is a regular customer at PC Pickles cafe at the market, called Brighton and Hove City Council on Tuesday.

An adviser told him to put the bird in a public bin.

Mr Carron, 43, of Grove Hill, Brighton, said: "I was going to pick it up in a bag then I thought, I'd better not do that because of bird flu. I reported it to the council and the man said, 'carry it to a public bin'.

"I don't think that is good advice at all. The council should come and get it and take it to the rubbish tip or incinerate it. With all this bird flu you don't know what to do."

The bird was eventually taken away on Wednesday.

Mr Carron said: "I am pleased it's gone because it was just lying there. It was going to rot."

Meanwhile, Andrew Samuels, of Wilbury Crescent, Hove, was at a relative's house in St Richard's Road, Portslade, when they discovered a large bird decaying in the house guttering which they could not reach.

Neither the family nor their neighbours had access to a ladder to clear the guttering and when flies began to swarm, they called the Environmental Health department at Adur District Council.

They informed the family that as they did not live in a council-owned property, there was little the local authority could do to help and they should shut a nearby window and allow the bird to rot.

Mr Samuels said: "It is carrying bacteria and what with bird flu around, we were rather concerned that something really needed to be done. What would the council's plan be if there was a potential outbreak?"

Both Adur District Council and Brighton and Hove City Council said they followed guidelines from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the disposal of dead birds.

These state that if the animal is not a swan, duck or goose, it should be picked up and put in the nearest bin.

A spokesman from the city council said: "The bird should be picked up using disposable rubber gloves and a spade or shovel if possible. If you have no gloves, you could wear plastic bags as makeshift gloves.

"The bird should be double-wrapped in plastic bags together with the disposable gloves.

"The bags should be securely tied before being put in the dustbin.

"After carrying out the disposal, you should wash your hands thoroughly in hot soapy water."

For advice on bird flu precautions visit the city council's website