THE movement of certain shellfish has been restricted after the discovery of a parasite in a bed of native oysters off the Kent coast.

The parasite Bonamia ostreae was found in samples taken from Whitstable Bay, inspectors confirmed on Friday.

Defra said it did not expect the discovery to have any effect commercial activity.

The parasite is no threat to human health, but according to a Defra spokesman, can cause "sudden, unusually high mortality, in native oyster stock".

The controls put in place affects live shellfish including oysters, clams, mussels and scallops.