A DARWEN primary school has been rocked by a sickness bug that caused 60 children to be absent on one day.

Bosses at Avondale Primary School in Durham Road have written to parents urging them to keep children at home if they show signs of symptoms.

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In his letter, headteacher Stewart Plowes said: "We have an extremely unpleasant sickness bug sweeping through school and affecting both children and staff.

"The numbers are larger than would normally be expected, so after discussion with the Cumbria and Lancashire Health Protection Team we are writing to parents.

"The symptoms are suggestive of viral gastroentiritis, also known as norovirus, and it is known that high liveles of viral illness are currently circulating in the community.

"If your child is affected with these symptoms we would like to reiterate that children should remain off school until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.

"We have also had several cases of people trying to come back too soon and being re-infected or at least the bug re-occurring.

"This advice should be strictly adhered to for the general health and wellbeing of the whole school community."