The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital has cancelled routine in-patient admissions due to a stomach bug outbreak.

The hospital is dealing with cases of diarrhoea and vomiting that involve 47 patients and 80 staff.

To control the infection, the hospital has cancelled all elective work - with the exception of paediatric patients - on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Medical director Dr Iain Brooksby said: "We have had to take a difficult decision to cancel routine in-patients for the next three days but we believe it is the only responsible decision in the circumstances.

"Clearly we can only apologise to those patients who have had their treatment cancelled and we will be aiming to re-admit them as soon as we can."

The bug, which is easily spread, affects people with diarrhoea and vomiting for around 24-48 hours.

The hospital asked that people avoid visiting the premises to prevent inadvertently spreading the bug and to wash their hands if they do come in for an appointment.