VISITORS have been banned from county hospitals to contain a winter diarrhoea and vomiting bug.

Worcestershire Royal, the Alexandra Hospital and Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre are closed to visitors to protect patients and visitors from norovirus.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed today that three wards are affected at Worcester and three at Redditch.

Exceptional visiting can be arranged by prior agreement with the ward manager. People are advised to contact their ward directly for information.

Outpatient appointments are running as normal but people are advised not to attend if they have experienced vomiting or diarrhoea in the last 48 hours.