Three hospital wards are shut to new patients because of a winter bug outbreak.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has shut one its intermediate care wards at St Luke's Hospital and one at each of its community hospitals at Westbourne Green, in Heaton Road, and Westwood Park, off Cooper Lane.

In total, the situation affects five beds that could have been taken by new patients.

Patients at Westbourne Green have been moved into side rooms with a view to reopening the ward on Monday.

The Hospital Trust is asking hospital visitors to help keep its other wards free of the diarrhoea and vomiting bug, known as Norovirus, this autumn and winter.

This week, Public Health England (PHE) issued a warning about the bug as the virus usually peaks in the winter months and. Levels of the infection are at expected levels for the moment, said a PHE spokesman.

The virus can cause sudden nausea, projectile vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

All hospital visitors, including those to Bradford Royal Infirmary, are being asked to take extra care with hygiene and remember to wash their hands thoroughly when entering and leaving the hospitals and to use the alcohol gel provided at ward and department entrances and exits.

The Trust's chief nurse Sally Scales said: "We are asking the public to reduce the spread of these infections by not coming into hospitals to visit relatives and friends when they themselves are unwell. Anyone suffering from vomiting or diarrhoea should stay away from visiting the hospital until at least 48 hours after the end of their symptoms.

“We also advise that young children are not brought into hospital to visit relatives at this time as children can be carrying the illness but we also don’t want them to be exposed to these infections."

She added: “Most people can manage the symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting at home or with simple, over-the-counter remedies and do not need to go to A&E. If people think they need urgent advice and treatment when their GP surgery is closed, they should ring their GP number and they will be transferred to the out-of-hours service."

Alternatively people can call NHS 111 for fast medical advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.