Three elderly patients have died following outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting in Fife hospitals.

Health officials said two women in their late seventies and a man in his early eighties had already been seriously ill when they caught infections.

Officials revealed that the three patients at Whyteman's Brae Hospital in Kirkcaldy died at the weekend.

A Fife Health Board spokeswoman said 60 patients and 40 members of staff have shown symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting over the past two weeks.

While the majority of patients were suffering from viral infection some had an antibiotic-related illness resulting from Clostridium difficile.

Most of the wards affected by the outbreaks have now reopened and the remaining two, Raith ward at Whyteman's and Ward Five at Queen Margaret Drive, in Dunfermline, were expected to reopen on Wednesday.

Some patients at Victoria Hospital, in Kirkcaldy, were also taken ill.

NHS Fife said members of an outbreak control team which was set up were satisfied that appropriate measures to tackle the infections were put in place.

Medical director Dr David Fraser, said: "Viral infections are often brought into hospitals from the community.

"General good hygiene, especially regular hand washing, has been highlighted as an important factor in preventing the spread of these infections.

"Precautions are in place to prevent further spread and we are considering what further measures need to be taken to prevent recurrence."

Hospital staff and visitors have been reminded about the importance of thorough hand washing.