THREE wards remain closed to new admissions at Southampton General Hospital following an outbreak of a winter diarrhoea and vomiting bug.

A total of eight patients and three staff currently have symptoms of the norovirus.

Meanwhile bosses at Winchester’s Royal Hampshire County Hospital were hoping to today open at least one of the two wards closed after a similar outbreak.

At one point 30 patients were affected by the norovirus but hospital chiefs said that there were no new cases yesterday.

Both hospitals are urging visitors to stay away if they have suffered from diarrhoea or vomiting during the previous 72 hours.

Visitors are also being reminded to wash their hands carefully before and after visiting a clinical ward area and use the alcohol gels available.