A vet who fell ill after helping contain the bird flu outbreak in Suffolk has tested negative for the disease.

The Health Protection Agency today revealed that tests had shown the vet to be clear of avian flu and normal seasonal flu.

A spokesman added that the man, named locally as Gordon Young, would now be treated "under normal clinical care".

The tests were ordered after Mr Young, said to be in his 50s, began showing signs of a mild respiratory illness.

He was admitted yesterday for tests to Nottingham City Hospital.

The vet fell ill after working at the Bernard Matthews farm where the outbreak has occurred in Suffolk.

The poultry company has defended its handling of the incident.

Commercial director Bart Dalla Mura said the firm had no idea the turkeys were suffering from bird flu until the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs told them last Friday.

He said: "We heard the birds weren't well on Wednesday. The mortality increased a bit more on Thursday and that is when our vet said he was going to contact the next stage of the line.

"The last thing we thought was that they had avian flu."

Around 160,000 birds were slaughtered in a bid to contain the disease. Investigations are still going on to find the source of the outbreak.