PARENTS of pupils at an East Riding school have been given advice on how to combat Norovirus after an outbreak of sickness at the village primary.

Swanland Primary School headteacher Ray Woodward wrote to parents of children at the 400-pupil school after a larger than usual number of children became ill with nausea and stomach ache.

The headteacher said the sickness appeared to be concentrated in just one or two classes and pupils had been reminded to be careful about personal hygiene.

Disinfectant hand-gel was also made available in each class at the Tranby Lane primary.

Mr Woodward, who circulated a fact sheet about Norovirus to families, told parents: "Whilst I am unable to accurately diagnose the cause, I am informed that this might be a Norovirus.

"I am not a physician and must not jump to any conclusions."

Mr Woodward said good hygiene measures are the most effective way to tackle the sickness and diarrhoea bug.

He told the Mail: "Norovirus, if indeed that's indeed what it was, is what we have all called winter vomiting since time began and the best preventative is good hygiene.

"The strategy worked."

After alerting parents on January 22, Mr Woodward says the outbreak is now over.

He said: "We did have a lot of tummy ache and sickness but we have just got back to full strength.

"We have a handful of children off at any time with one thing or another but there is no plague."

Mr Woodward understands other schools in Hull and the East Riding may have also been affected by outbreaks.

But as Norovirus is not a notifiable disease he said it was not possible to say for sure how prevalent the problem has been.

Mr Woodward added: "I have heard it is round the city and East Riding schools but it is not a notifiable problem."

There is no specific treatment for Norovirus apart from letting the illness run its course but sufferers are advised it is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.