ANGLERS and walkers have been put on alert in Radcliffe after a dead bat tested positive for rabies.

The bat was discovered by a passer-by on a canal bank near the town, but only after examinations were carried out was it found to be infected with a rare strain of the deadly disease.

The walker, together with the three animal protection workers who handled the dead Daubenton bat, were given anti-rabies injections when it was revealed it had been suffering from the European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV)Type 2 strain.

Consultant in health protection Dr Ken Lamden said: "The bat had been stunned after flying into a tree and was picked up by a member of the public and also handled by three professional bat workers.

"None was bitten or scratched, but all were vaccinated against rabies as a precautionary measure and all are infection-free. The bat was found to be infected with EBLV, a strain of rabies that is thankfully very uncommon in the UK bat population."

Steven Parker, who works as a volunteer for the South Lancashire bat conservation group, was one of the three experts to handle the bat when it was discovered, and tests were undertaken in November last year.

He said: "Although I've been vaccinated against rabies, as have most people who work with bats, I still decided it was safer to have the anti-rabies shot.Daubenton bats very rarely roost in houses; they prefer culverts, bridges or tunnels and normally live near water as they feed on the surface.

"This is the first bat I have come across with rabies in the five years I've been working as a volunteer."

The Daubenton bat, which makes up about ten per cent of the UK's bat population, is the only breed of bat to have been shown to carry rabies in the past 19 years - and in that time there have only been four confirmed cases. It has not been found in the more common Pipistrelle bats.

Despite the low risk, health chiefs are urging members of the public to remain vigilant and never to touch bats.

Professor Martyn Regan, of the North West Health Protection Agency, said: "Although any risk to humans from a bat bite or scratch would be low, we would strongly advise members of the public not to handle a sick or injured bat.

"The warning is particularly aimed at anglers and walkers, as Daubenton's bats tend to live near rivers or canals.

"Our advice to family doctors and accident and emergency staff is that anyone who has been bitten or had close exposure to a bat should be assess for post-exposure rabies vaccination as soon as possible."

People who find a sick or ailing bat should not approach or handle it, but should seek advice from the Bat Conservation Trust by calling 0845 1300228.