A total of 70 guests have been affected, but many of them are on the road to recovery.

Steve Reynolds, a principle environmental health officer with Scarborough Council said: “The number of cases has obviously fallen and we will continue to monitor the situation. If they can eradicate the virus without completely closing then they will be able to accommodate these loyal repeat guests.”

A thorough sanitisation of the hotel is continuing, with all rooms, public spaces and keys being disinfected.

Hotel bosses believed guests were hit by Norovirus – also known as Norwalk-like virus, the most common cause of infectious gastroenteritis in England and Wales.

It is thought the virus was brought into the hotel by a guest who may have initially passed on the illness while on a coach.

It is the second time this year the hotel has been plagued by illness. And in 2004 and 2002 the hotel shut after guests were struck down with a virus.