Seven people are at the centre of an E.coli O157 outbreak at a caravan and camping site in the Scottish Highlands.

Two children under 12 are confirmed as having the poisonous bug while another two are suspected of having it.

The three remaining cases are adults.

Experts say the heavy rain could have been partly to blame for the outbreak at the Rothiemurchus Caravan Park at Coylumbridge, near Aviemore.

The downpours could have washed manure or other substances into what would normally have been a safe water system.

We have seen this before in the countryside with people camping or just going into the country

Professor Hugh Pennington

The park is supplied by a private water supply from the Rothiemurchus Estate.

Only bottled water is currently being used.

Scottish Water stressed: "The public water supply to the Aviemore area is unaffected and remains perfectly safe to drink."

E. coli expert Professor Hugh Pennington, of Aberdeen University, said a private water supply was the most likely source of the outbreak.

Private supplies

"There may well be a linking factor to the heavy rain we have had recently," he said.

"We have seen this before in the countryside with people camping or just going into the country.

"We do have so many private water supplies compared with England and with heavy rain they get contaminated for short periods."

The source of the outbreak is not yet known

Professor Pennington also said the responsibility for guarding against contamination was with the supply owners.

Dr John Wrench, the director of public health at NHS Highland, said the health board had informed other authorities throughout the UK, as many holidaymakers had stayed at the Highland campsite.

"At this stage we do not have any specific focus or concrete evidence as to the exact source of the infection," he said.

"Certainly in terms of a potential water infection that is something we would consider - that rain, or very heavy rain, can potentially flush infected materials into water supplies.