PEOPLE living in the Forest - and visitors to the Dean - are again being urged not to feed wild boar to help prevent an outbreak of a deadly animal disease.

African Swine Fever, which is not harmful to humans but is lethal to boar and pig, has so far been kept our of the UK but has devastated the meat trade in parts of Europe.

If there was an out break in this area, Forest rangers would have a key role in the response, Forest district councillors heard.

Deputy Surveyor Kevin Stannard, Forestry England’s most senior official in the area said African Swine Fever was "a disease of significant concern" across the world.

He told the Forest Council’s strategic overview and scrutiny committee: "Earlier in the year there was a national contingency test for African Swine Fever.

"African Swine Fever is a disease of significant concern across the world and there has been an extensive outbreak in Eastern Europe (which) got as close as Belgium.

"The contingency test was to make sure that the agencies that would be involved ind dealing with such an outbreak are joined up and understand their role

"All the Forestry England wildlife rangers in the Forest have been approved by APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) as being suitably professional to take samples of suspect material from the culling operation and pass it back to APHA.

"That is apart of the national disease surveillance for a number of diseases, not least the swine fevers,"

The APHA has expressed concern that some of the 2.5 million visitors to the Forest may not dispose of food waste safely.

UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Richard Irvine said: "If African Swine Fever arrived in the Forest of Dean it would have a devastating impact on our pigs and pig keepers.

"We regularly test our contingency plans to ensure that we are ready to respond to potential future disease outbreaks.

"We all need to do our bit to help stop animal diseases spreading to this country. The main way that you can help is by not bringing any pork products back to the UK and ensuring that you dispose of leftovers and food waste in secure bins that wildlife cannot access."

Cllr Paul Hiett, (Bream, Prog All), the Forest Council’s Cabinet member for communities added: "It is important that we preserve our environment and pro-actively prevent any challenges to our individual and collective enjoyment of these natural resources.

"Join us and play your part to help prevent the spread of African Swine Fever to the wildlife in our beloved forests.

"Secure waste bins are provided, please put your food waste in them.

"Together we can help to maintain a healthy forest and wildlife."

Exercise Holly was a UK-wide virtual operation in July that simulated an outbreak of African Swine Fever and the authorities’ response to it.