AN award-winning restaurant has temporarily closed after more than 80 customers, as well as members of staff, developed sickness and diarrhoea.

The popular Michelin starred Star Inn, at Harome, near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, confirmed yesterday that it has closed its kitchens and dining area as a “precautionary measure”.

Staff are working with health chiefs to resolve the problem.

Health Protection Agency (HPA) bosses said that although the presence of the norovirus – known as the “winter vomiting bug” – has been confirmed at the restaurant, a “common cause of illness”

among customers had not.

The Star Inn has won a number of awards, including the Egon Ronay gastro-pub of the year title, in recent years.

Jacquie Pern, who runs the restaurant with her husband, chef Andrew Pern, said: “We can confirm that The Star restaurant is temporarily closed as a precautionary measure.

“We are taking the matter very seriously and are cooperating with the health authorities.

“We look forward to returning to normal as soon as possible.”

More than 80 people fell ill after eating at the restaurant between October 18 and 28.

A spokesman for the local authority, Ryedale District Council, said: “The HPA has confirmed that it is working with the council to investigate an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea.

“A number of restaurant staff are also known to be affected by symptoms.”

Dr Simon Padfield, consultant in communicable disease control for North Yorkshire and Humber Health Protection Unit, said: “Although tests have confirmed that norovirus is affecting a small number of staff at the restaurant, a common cause of illness affecting diners has not been confirmed.”

Noroviruses are part of a group of viruses that are the most common cause of upset stomach in the UK, affecting up to one million people a year.

The virus is easily transmitted from person to person.

It can also be linked to contaminated surfaces or objects, or to consuming contaminated food or drink.

Paul Crossley, the district council’s principal environmental health officer, said: “The restaurant’s management and staff are co-operating fully with the investigation and the restaurant has taken the precautionary measure of closing temporarily whilst investigations are ongoing.”

Mr Pern’s first cook book, Black Pudding And Foie Gras, won the Gourmand World Cookbook Silver Award for Best Chef Book In The World last year.