Staff stopped admitting new patients to Graham Ward on Monday, when patients there showed signs of diarrhoea and vomiting.

A hospital spokesman said: "Because we acted quickly, our infection control team and other staff managed to contain the situation. In total, eight patients and one member of staff were affected, but the ward has now been thoroughly cleaned and is reopening to patients today.

"This is not typically the time of year when this sort of virus is prevalent, but there is a lot of it about in the community.

"If a patient is already showing symptoms when they are admitted we do our best to isolate them until they are clear.

"It is important that visitors don't come to hospital if they themselves are showing symptoms or are only recently recovered, because the virus is very easily spread.

"Please wait until you've been better for 48 hours. It's more of a kindness to stay away rather than risk infecting someone who may already be poorly, and we appreciate everyone's support in this."