A Dorset hospital has closed eight wards after an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea.

All emergency cases are now being moved from the Royal Bournemouth Hospital to Southampton and Poole.

And accident and emergency patients are being asked to go to doctors' surgeries instead where possible.

Nearly 150 patients and staff at the Bournemouth hospital have been affected by the Norwalk virus.

The airborne virus causes sickness and diarrhoea for between 24 and 48 hours but is not life threatening.

It's too early to say that it has peaked at this stage

Tony Spotswood chief executive

Tony Spotswood, chief executive of the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals, said the virus could affect operations for the rest of the week.

"The present situation is that we have 82 patients and 62 staff affected by the virus.

"Whilst there are signs of it slowing down it's too early to say that it has peaked at this stage.

"We are discouraging patients with more minor complaints from coming to our accident and emergency department and encouraging people to go to GPs' surgeries or other accident and emergency departments," said Mr Spotswood.

The latest outbreak comes after other outbreaks at Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital during September.