Earlier cruise travellers got ill

Two passengers with the virus were taken to hospital

A travel company allowed new passengers to board a cruise ship despite 50 people being struck down by a virus on a previous journey.

Travelscope said the ship had undergone a "deep cleaning" and was given the all-clear before the trip to Norway.

But on the latest trip, more than 100 passengers and crew on the Van Gogh liner suffered vomiting and diarrhoea.

Five hundred new passengers were turned away on Sunday after the ship was detained at Harwich docks in Essex.

The ship was inspected by the local port health authority and the Maritime Coastguard Agency.

Crew monitored

Travelscope spokesman Tim Knight said: "On the previous cruise, around 50 people had reported feeling ill.

"When the boat came into Harwich after that cruise, the deep cleaning process took place and the port health authority inspected it and deemed it was okay to go out again."

He said passengers began to fall ill on the second trip towards the end of the week when the ship was on its way back.

Mr Knight said: "It is very unfortunate for us and very disappointing and upsetting for the people who caught the virus and for those who had their cruise cancelled.

"But we must take the advice of the authorities and passenger health must be the first priority."

Passengers who had their holidays cancelled are to be offered refunds.

The vessel and its crew are being monitored for further outbreaks of the virus, and Travelscope said the ship would be disinfected before it sails again.