One of the region's best know hotels has been forced to close this weekend as health chiefs try to kill off a stomach bug which has struck almost 130 guests and staff.

Bosses at the seafront Grand Hotel, in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, were Thursday urging guests to stay in their rooms to prevent any further spreading of what is believed to be the airborne virus Norwalk - a form of gastroenteritis which causes sickness and diarrhoea.

It is the third time in eight years that the highly infectious bug has affected the hotel, although health experts have insisted the outbreak has nothing to do with poor hygiene measures at the venue.

They believe a guest may have brought the disease into the hotel, which had a holiday party of 400 people booked in this week.

Dr Phil Kirby, of North Yorkshire Health Protection Service, said 105 guests and 23 members of staff had so far been affected. One man is understood to have been taken to Scarborough General Hospital, but his condition is not serious.

"It is the kind of common bug which is often seen in schools, hospitals and other closed communities, like hotels," said Dr Kirby.

Symptoms are similar to gastric flu and usually last between 24 and 48 hours. But hotel management has taken the decision to close until Monday morning to allow for thorough cleaning to take place over the weekend, once all guests have left today.

Manager Wendy Hardaker said: "When you run a busy hotel as large as The Grand you are always prepared for anything. Hopefully, with the measures put in place, the virus will stop."

People booked in for the weekend are being offered alternative dates or the option of staying at hotels in Blackpool or London.

In January 1994, the hotel closed for eight days after 109 people were struck down by the same bug. It was also closed for a weekend in May 1995 when the Norwalk virus struck down nearly 350 guests and staff.