Almost 250 passengers and crew on board a P&O cruise ship have been taken ill during a two week trip around Hawaii.

It is thought that a virus which can cause diarrhoea, stomach pain and vomiting for up to 48 hours is to blame.

A spokeswoman for the Southampton-based cruise line said affected passengers were receiving medical care and had been quarantined in their rooms until the illness had run its course.

Norwalk or Norwalk-like viruses are suspected, but have not been confirmed as the cause of the outbreak.

The bugs have hit a number of cruise ships in the Caribbean in recent months, leaving around 1,500 passengers ill.

'I was quarantined'

The gastrointestinal illnesses are spread by close contact with infected people or the things they have touched.

Those who fell ill on board the Sun Princess were not allowed to leave the ship to take part in shore visits.

Passenger Richard McNally, who was one of those affected said: "I was quarantined in my stateroom."

He said that he could get food only through room service.

Recovered

After the ship arrived in Honolulu, crew members began work cleaning the ship, to try to prevent further outbreaks of the disease.

P&O said the first cases was reported soon after the Sun Princess left Los Angeles on 25 January.

All but about 50 passengers are thought to have recovered.

The ship, which is run by Princess Cruises - part of P&O - is making stops at Kauai and Maui before returning to California.