THE butchers shop at the centre of an investigation into an E.coli outbreak will reopen today.

Castle Bank Butchers' branch in Front Street, Chester-le-Street, has been closed voluntarily since Saturday.

But public health officials investigating the outbreak have said the shop can reopen only for the sale of raw meat.

Cold cooked meat sold at the store is thought to be at the centre of the outbreak that has led to nine confirmed and eight suspected cases of infection.

Only one person is still being treated at Durham's University Hospital. Earlier this week there were four.

Dr Deb Wilson, chairman of the Outbreak Control Team, said last night: "Investigations are ongoing into the possible source of the outbreak, but our findings so far continue to support a possible link with Castle Bank Butchers.

"However this possible link appears to be solely in relation to cold cooked meat products.

"Further laboratory results are still awaited and, as previously reported, final results will not be available until next week.

"It has been decided today, with the full agreement of the Outbreak Control Team, including environmental health officers, that the shop can now reopen for the sale of raw meat products only.

"It is expected that the shop will be open on Thursday."

Dr Wilson added that the store's stock of cooked meat had been incinerated as a precaution.