THREE wards have been closed at the Royal Bolton Hospital — after patients and staff contracted norovirus.

Members of the public are being asked to stay away from the hospital or nursing homes if they have had recent symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Three out of four units at Darley Court intermediate care home are closed to new admissions due to the illness.

Andy Ennis, Chief Operating Officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust said: “There has been a rise in the number of cases of norovirus across Greater Manchester since Easter and we are keen to avoid it spreading further.

“The illness is largely spread by members of the public who either come in with the illness or are visited by others with symptoms.

"In a close community such as a nursing home, hospital or even a ship or school, the illness can spread quite quickly to other people, including staff.

"This can affect the usual running of a hospital or care home as we have to close areas to new admissions where there is norovirus.

“We ask people not to visit with current or recent symptoms and for everyone to wash their hands thoroughly in the sinks on each ward and not just to use the alcohol gel. We will be monitoring the situation carefully and if necessary we may have to restrict all visiting for a period.”

The virus has affected a number of care homes and health units in Bolton and neighbouring areas.

Norovirus is an unpleasant illness that can be potentially serious for the elderly and those who are already very unwell.

Medics advise that people who have an upset stomach should rest and try to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration and not to visit A&E or other health facilities as any stomach bug is highly contagious and there is a risk of infecting others.

The warning from the hospital comes just a week after the accident and emergency service was forced to declare a “critical incident” status. Services at A&E are now back to normal but bosses say the department it still very busy.

Health chiefs also repeated their message for people not to use A&E as their "first port of call" for minor ailments.