VISITING times are to be restricted at the Royal Bolton Hospital in a bid to stop the spread of superbugs.

The number of visitors will also be limited as hospital chiefs battle to reduce the number of patients contracting MRSA or Clostridium difficile.

The measures are being introduced so staff at the hospital can monitor hand washing when people enter wards.

Beverley Andrew, director of corporate services at the Royal Bolton Hospital, said: "This is about going back to how visiting used to be, although not necessarily as strict as it was in the past.

"We've spoken to patients and they often feel they need to rest, so with specific visiting times they would be able to do that. We would obviously have some flexibility though."

The exact visiting times and the number of visitors to be allowed has yet to be decided but it is expected the measures will be introduced next month.

Bosses at the Royal Bolton Hospital have failed to meet Government targets for the number of MRSA cases in the 2006/07 financial year. The target was 21 cases, but that has already been surpassed. Exact figures will be made available at the end of this month.

The hospital's rates of Clostridium difficile, which can cause severe diarrhoea, are the second highest in Greater Manchester, with 280 cases from January until the end of September last year.

Measures have already been introduced into the hospital to halt the spread of superbugs, including increased monitoring of those most at risk of contracting MRSA.

Handwash dispensers are available at each ward entrance.

Daily reports on MRSA outbreaks within the hospital are being given to every ward, matron and department manager to keep its progress in check.

Bosses received a £300,000 cash windfall, which they are using to replace all hospital curtains with new ones which can kill superbugs.