Furness General Hospital hit by norovirus outbreak

Cumbria health bosses have closed a ward at the Furness General Hospital in Barrow due to a norovirus outbreak.

The Morecambe Bay NHS Trust warned the spread of the infection could also lead to restrictions on two further wards.

A trust spokeswoman said the ward would be closed to admissions and visitors for at least the next 48 hours.

She blamed the measures on a "huge increase" in cases of the highly infectious disease, more commonly known as the winter vomiting bug.