SIX wards at a North-East hospital have been affected by a bug that causes vomiting.

Bosses at the 1,000 James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, said five medical wards and one surgical word had been affected by the outbreak.

In an attempt to stop the virus spreading, they have closed four of the medical wards and partially closed the fifth.

Admissions to the affected surgical ward are being considered on an individual basis.

A spokesman said it was business as usual in the rest of the hospital and patients who have appointments should continue to keep them unless they are contacted by hospital staff.

However, visitors to the affected wards are being asked to stay away, unless their visit is absolutely essential.

Patients affected by the bug have to stay on the ward until they are symptom-free for at least 48 hours.

Precautions are being taken by doctors and nurses to avoid spreading the bug.

The so-called "winter vomiting" bug is caused by an organism called Norovirus.

Apart from vomiting, the the norovirus bug can also cause diarrhoea. It has already caused ward closures in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

Dr David Hill, infection control officer at the James Cook hospital, said: "We are working closely with the public health team and reviewing this on a daily basis. The outbreak has been confirmed as a winter vomiting disease."