A HOSPITAL ward and a care home for the elderly have been closed to new admissions following an outbreak of a virus.

The medical ward at the Royal Bolton Hospital was shut to new admissions on March 1 after 14 patients and a member of staff were struck down with the bug, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

An unnamed care home for the elderly in Bolton has also closed its doors to new patients after seven people and two members of staff fell ill with the virus.

Heather Edwards, head of communications at the Royal Bolton, said: "We would like to remind people that they shouldn't visit the hospital if they have had any of the symptoms in the past 48 hours. All the necessary precautions are being taken to make sure we stop the spread."

The closures come as hospital chiefs reopen a ward which had been closed for nearly two weeks.

It was shut on February 17 after 20 patients and eight members of staff become ill with the norovirus illness.

It is not known which virus is causing the latest bout of illness, but every case is being examined.

Last month three wards at the hospital were closed following an outbreak of the virus, and in January three wards and a small bedded unit at the hospital were shut to new admissions.

Graham Munslow, a public health specialist for Bolton Primary Care Trust, said: "This is common at this time of year as there are a lot of bugs about, so it is nothing to worry about."