The Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, is limiting admissions of non-urgent patients to prevent the spread of a highly-infectious stomach bug.

The special measures will stay in place for 48 hours after almost 30 patients fell ill.

Some hospital staff have also been affected by the virus.

The same virus has recently spread through hospitals and schools across England and Scotland.

A spokesperson for the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust said the most effective way to prevent further spread of the disease was to contain it quickly.

The hospital has stressed that out-patient, day case appointments and emergency admissions will continue as usual.

Any patient whose operation is postponed will be contacted immediately by the hospital.