A nursery has been closed after a number of children contracted an illness linked to the potentially deadly E.coli bacteria.

Two children are in hospital and all others from the Busy Bears Nursery, in Skipton, North Yorkshire, have been sent home while an investigation is carried out into the source of the infection.

Staff, youngsters who attend the nursery and their families will all be screened for signs of the illness.

An outbreak control team from the North Yorkshire Health Protection Service has been sent to the area and will review the situation daily.

Meanwhile, all those who may have come into contact with the bacteria have been informed and given advice.

A spokesman from the health protection service last night said: "Contracting E.coli can be very serious and there have been cases where it has proved fatal, but the indications are that the children who are in hospital are doing okay."

"Although there is cause for concern, there is no need for panic or alarm; we will continue to monitor the situation and will issue advice to all those who may be affected."