A PRIMARY school is to undergo a deep clean over the bank holiday weekend after children were struck down with a sickness bug.

Sacred Heart RC Primary School has had an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis, a common bug, which has affected a large number of children this week.

Letters were sent out to parents yesterday asking for their help in preventing further spread of infection at the Westhoughton school.

The school is one of the borough’s top performing primaries.

Chairman of governors Kath Morris said: “Wednesday saw an average number of children off through sickness, but this escalated yesterday.

“Friday saw no change in sickness levels. Advice from the Bolton Community Infection, Prevention and Control Team was sought, has been followed and all necessary precautions have been taken.”

She added: “We have further commissioned a full deep clean over the weekend. This is in addition to the daily school cleaning and sanitising routines.

“Parents have been informed and are appreciative of these measures and continue to work with school in order to achieve the best for their children.”

The risk of infection spreads if children are sent back to school too early after being ill.

The school said the caretaker and site officer have intensified their daily cleaning routine, re-cleaning handles and toilets throughout yesterday to prevent further spread of germs.

This was in addition to the daily work of contract cleaners who come to the school every day.

The letter sent out advises parents on how they can help school prevent the further spread of infection.

A spokesman from Bolton Council’s public health team said: “The Community Infection, Prevention and Control team at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust has provided standard advice to the school around the importance of careful hand washing with liquid soap, warm water and paper towels, especially after visiting the toilet and before eating.

"In order to help prevent the illness from spreading, advice was also given on how to carry out a thorough clean of the environment.

“The advice to any school in this situation is to report an outbreak at the earliest opportunity and we do ask that parents and carers help by keeping their child away from school or nursery for at least 48 hours following their last symptom.

"These factors are essential when trying to avoid the spread of infection in the community.”