A PRIMARY school headteacher is being treated at home after being diagnosed with swine flu.

The head of Sacred Heart RC Primary, in Byermoor, Gateshead, is said to be doing well.

Maggie Atkinson, group director of learning and children at Gateshead Council, said the school was keeping parents and staff closely informed.

The Health Protection Agency and the council are assessing the situation at the school.

Parents have been advised to monitor their children's health but, provided they are well, continue to send them to school as usual.

Ms Atkinson said: "The advice we have received is that all pupils and members of staff should continue to attend school as usual, providing they are well.

"The school will therefore remain open as normal, as have schools elsewhere during the current stage of the outbreak."

The announcement came the day after the Government warned there could be 100,000 new swine flu cases a day in Britain by the end of next month.

NHS bosses in the region are drawing up emergency plans, which could involve calling in recently retired doctors and nurses and cancelling routine operations.

Thousands of anti-viral drug Tamiflu courses have been stockpiled.