A Burley-in-Wharfedale school has been told to close its doors to outsiders in a bid to control the spread of winter vomiting virus.

Burley Oaks school has been given the advice by environmental health officers after some of its pupils were affected by the virus.

The decision to ban visitors means tonight's village forum has had to be hastily re-arranged, and will now be held at the Queen's Hall.

Although the Burley Oaks outbreak seems small it has happened against the backdrop of major problems in Bradford where more than 40 schools have been shut, and more than 80 have banned visitors, in an attempt to stop the rampant spread of the bug.

Head teacher Roy Pallas said the school was still open for pupils but was under restriction because of the winter vomiting virus.

"Basically environmental health have contacted us following a query from a parent.

"Because we have a higher than normal incidence of sickness and diarrhoea at the moment they have advised that we take certain measures to restrict the spread."

He said the school was taking the advice seriously but he stressed that Burley Oaks was not badly affected by the virus, and its attendance levels had always been above 90 per cent.

"Yesterday out of 315 pupils we had 15 off," he said.

Of those 15, eight were on holiday and some of the rest had other illnesses, he said.

"We are not talking about anything of significance," he stressed.

"But when environmental health contact you and give you advice you would be foolhardy not to follow that advice, particularly when it affects the health of children and of staff."

He said he was confident that the virus was on the wane at the school and was also confident that the restrictions would be lifted after the Easter holiday.