Bug-hit holiday camp remains shut

Up to 60 people have fallen ill at the holiday village

A holiday village is expected to remain closed until Friday after an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis struck up to 60 campers.

Two female guests had to be taken to hospital in the early hours of Friday.

Others left the Mill Rythe Holiday Village, on Hayling Island, Hampshire, suffering diarrhoea and vomiting.

A health authority spokesman said it was thought the outbreak was caused by the highly-contagious Norwalk virus. A clean up was taking place, he said.

The "vomiting bug" has been affecting other parts of the couth coast, including several hospitals.

New visitors to the holiday site have been turned away, including more than 400 darts players who turned up on Friday to play in a tournament.

Betty Aiken, whose cousin has been taken to hospital, said it was chaos

Dr Edmundo Neira, a consultant in communicable disease for the Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire Health Authority confirmed the bug was likely to be the Norwalk, or Noro, virus.

"We believe the outbreak is the Noro virus, which has been circulating on the south coast and is not an isolated incident.

"Since Monday of this week a total of 54 people who were visiting the holiday village have suffered signs of vomiting and diarrhoea."

Betty Aiken, of Croydon, Surrey, spoke to the BBC as she left the site on Friday after a four-day visit.

She said: "It's chaos in there.

"My cousin's in hospital, she was taken away at half past three this morning - she's really ill."