A rabid bat has been found in an alley near Staines town centre, in only the third rabies case in over 18 years of surveillance in the UK.

The Daubenton's bat was found by a member of the public in an alley off Thames Street, on Friday, September 17, when it was moved to a secluded spot underneath some trees, until Tuesday last week.

The animal was collected by experienced representatives of the Surrey Bat Group, Ross Baker and Lynn Whitfield, who, in working to rehabilitate the bat, realised that it was behaving oddly, before it died two days later.

Ross and Lynn said: "The bat was extremely weak. As soon as it died we sent it to the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, in Weybridge, for testing as per procedure.

"We would like to reassure the public that despite the fact the tests proved positive, bat rabies remains very rare in the UK."

Confirmatory tests being carried out on the female bat have proved positive for the presence of European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV), a strain of rabies virus common in bats across Northern Europe.

Preliminary indications are that the strain is EBLV- type 2, which is closely linked to the classic rabies virus, but only two other cases had previously been discovered in the UK - one in 1996 and another in 2002, when bat expert David McRae, from Angus, Scotland, died after contracting rabies from a bat bite.

Deaths from bat rabies are extremely rare and since 1977 there have been three deaths in Europe attributed to EBVL infections, including Mr McRae.

However, the Surrey Bat Group members, who are known to have cared for and handled the bat found in Staines, took precautions and wore gloves, but are still receiving appropriate medical treatment to ensure their health. The man who discovered the bat was immediately put on a course of vaccination as a precaution.

Speaking about the rabid bat, Anne Damerell, secretary of Staines Town Society, said: "It is obviously something not welcomed in our town, but as the animal was already in this country, it was bound to be found somewhere.

"The bat could have drifted to the UK from Northern Europe, due to the climate changes and I hope that this possibility is considered.

"However, we should be thankful that this case has not been fatal like the last one in the UK."

Amy Coyte, the Bat Conservation Trust's (BCT) chief executive, added: "The risk of rabies from bats remains small, however the risk is further reduced by the service provided by the bat helpline, backed up by the volunteer network.

"No other country in the world has this excellent service."

Although the virus has been found in only one species in the UK, the BCT takes precautionary measures and advises people not to handle any bats, but to call the helpline for advice on 0845 130 0228, or contact Defra on 020 7904 6222 for animal contacts and the Health Protection Agency on 020 8200 6868 for human contacts.