Groom and best man get swine flu

The groom is a teacher at Edensor Technology College

A 27-year-old groom and his best man have been diagnosed with swine flu after returning from a stag week in Las Vegas, the BBC has learned.

The groom is a teacher at Edensor Technology College in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, and his friend lives in Madeley Heath, Staffordshire.

Both men told BBC Radio Stoke they felt tired and congested but not overly ill.

Two men from north-east England, who were also on the trip, have also been diagnosed with the virus.

The men said they were among a group of 17 men staying at the Imperial Hotel, in Las Vegas.

'Interesting speeches'

They were all tested after one of the men from the North East was diagnosed.

The teacher, who did not wish to be named, said he was swabbed last Thursday and the school had sent him home on the Friday, before the result of the test was known.

He said he was getting married in August and with the groom and best man both having been confirmed with swine flu, it should make for "some interesting speeches".

North Staffordshire Primary Care Trust said it would not comment on individual cases.

The Health Protection Agency has confirmed three new cases in the West Midlands region on Tuesday, taking the regional total to 142.