HEALTH officials remain convinced that a serious food poisoning outbreak that left 11 people ill can be linked to a butcher's shop.

An official report into the E coli outbreak was presented to Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust.

It described the oubreak as a serious incident because of the nature of the E coli 0157 infection, which can lead to severe illness. Officials concluded that the source of the outbreak was "highly likely" to be associated with consumption of food from the Castlebank Butcher's shop, in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

The shop voluntarily closed at the beginning of the outbreak, but has subsequently re-opened with the approval of health officials after control measures were implemented, including extra training for staff.

Those affected by the bug ranged from a young child to a pensioner. Five needed hospital treatment.

Symptoms can range from mild diarrhoea to a severe illness that can cause kidney damage.

The first cases were reported to the County Durham and Tees Valley Health Protection Unit on June 28. The outbreak was declared over on July 22.

A team put together to investigate the outbreak suspected that the butcher's shop was a source from an early stage.

The team said the shop was the likely source of the outbreak after E coli samples taken from victims were indistinguishable from samples found on the raw meat scales and till touch-pad in the shop.

This provided opportunities for cross-contamination in foods such as sandwiches and cold cooked meat, the report added.

The report said raw meat was the most likely source of E coli in the shop.

Officials said the most recent food hygiene inspection of the shop before the outbreak had been satisfactory.