Managers from Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) are urging people with 'flu and diarrhoea to stay at home.

The A and E department is said to be "bursting at the seams" because of a wave of people arriving with minor illnesses.

The LRI are currently on Amber Plus Alert - the stage before Red Alert.

Spreading germs

It is thought the rise in the number of those with 24 hour bugs has been caused by the onset of autumn.

There has also been an increase in the number of people with breathing difficulties.

Staff at the department say there is no treatment they can give and that the best remedy is to stay at home and drink plenty of water.

They also say other patients are being put at risk because people are bringing their 'flu germs into the department.