Ill passengers stay on virus ship

A number of passengers recovering from an outbreak of a vomiting bug on a cruise ship have remained on board after the vessel docked at Essex.

More than 600 passengers have started making their way home after the Marco Polo arrived at Tilbury earlier.

The ship was struck by the vomiting bug and had to cut short a round Britain cruise earlier this week.

A spokesman for Transocean Tours, of Bremen, said 11 passengers are still on board and will leave the ship later.

The ship operator said fares would be refunded as a "gesture of goodwill".