TWO new wards are now closed at the Royal Bolton Hospital due to the sickness bug the Norwalk virus, as other hospitals in the North-west are also forced to close wards.

Since the outbreak, 54 patients and 24 members of staff have been affected in Bolton.

Staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital have been working hard to contain the spread of the virus and have managed to reduce the number of closed wards from six on Friday to two today.

Wards closed are the medical and elderly wards, L4 and N4.

A hospital spokesman said: "Thankfully the situation at Bolton Hospitals appears to be improving, although we will remain vigilant. We would like to thank staff for their hard work in helping to contain the outbreak and getting wards thoroughly cleaned for reopening and also to visitors and patients for their co-operation."

Meanwhile, other hospitals still under pressure include Wythenshawe, Oldham and Stockport.

The Royal Bolton Hospital is continuing to ask members of the public not to visit if they have any symptoms, which may include sudden projectile vomiting -- lasting for between 12 and 60 hours.

TWO more wards are now closed at the Royal Bolton Hospital due to the sickness bug the Norwalk virus, as other hospitals in the North-west are also forced to close wards.

Since the outbreak, 54 patients and 24 members of staff have been affected in Bolton.

Staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital have been working hard to contain the spread of the virus and have managed to reduce the number of closed wards from six on Friday to two today.

Wards closed are the medical and elderly wards, L4 and N4.

A hospital spokesman said: "Thankfully the situation at Bolton Hospitals appears to be improving, although we will remain vigilant."

Meanwhile, other hospitals still under pressure include Wythenshawe, Oldham and Stockport.

The Royal Bolton Hospital is continuing to ask members of the public not to visit if they have any symptoms, which may include sudden projectile vomiting -- lasting for between 12 and 60 hours.