Shoppers bear the cost of a bad year for farmers

TURKEY prices will not be affected by an outbreak of bird flu, but will still be higher after a tough year for farmers.

Fears were raised that the cull of 6,500 birds at a turkey farm near Diss, in Norfolk, would drive prices of the festive bird up this Christmas.

But it was claimed today that the cull was only a small percentage of the turkey market.

Instead a predicted rise would follow a treacherous summer of wet weather and disease that has blighted the farming industry.