MORE than 100 children and staff at a primary school have been struck down with a highly contagious sickness bug believed to be norovirus.

Eastwood Primary School, in Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, has been forced to cancel a number of planned events this week- including an end of term assembly, booster classes and a restaurant visit- due to the illness.

The leadership team has decided to keep the school open, despite calls from some concerned parents.

A deep clean of the building took place over the weekend following advice from Public Health England.

Headteacher Rebecca Perman said the bug has not officially been diagnosed as norovirus, which causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting.

She would not confirm how many pupils have been affected.

Ms Perman said: “A significant number of children and three staff have been affected by a sickness bug since the end of last week. As far as we are aware this has not been diagnosed by any doctors as norovirus.

“We have taken advice from Public Health England and carried out a deep clean of the school at the weekend and cancelled events due to take place this week. We will continue to monitor the situation, but at the current time the school remains open."

She urged parents to keep affected children off school for an extra two days after symptoms stop in a bid to stop the bug spreading further.

Ms Perman added: “We would like to remind parents that if their child has been ill then they must not return to school until 48 hours after their last bout of sickness.

"Any child coming to school before that time period has elapsed is being sent back home. Anyone with any further concerns should contact the school directly.”

Symptoms of the norovirus include fever, headaches, painful stomach cramps and aching limbs.

One parent, who did not want to be named, said some Eastwood Primary School pupils have experience more than one bout of the bug,

The parent said: "Over 100 children and parents have been hit with the very contagious nirovirus bug.

"Parents want school closure as many infected children are still being sent to school and have reinfected those that have recovered."