The hospital is trying to reduce the spread of infection

The move at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital has been taken to prevent further spread of the Norwalk-like virus around the hospital.

The hospital is asking friends and relatives of patients to stay away if those visitors have had any symptoms of the bug in the past 48 hours.

The Norwalk-like virus causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

Senior Infection Control Sister Jan Cox said: "These viruses are heavily present in the community right now and have been brought into the hospital.

"We have taken a number of measures across the hospital to try to reduce the spread of infection. But these measures are being undermined because people who have had recent contact with the virus are continuing to visit patients.

"Our urgent plea to them is please stay away unless the visit is strictly necessary. We know they want to visit your loved ones, but they risk bringing the bug into the hospital and affecting an entire ward."