A STUDENT who returned from Canada at the weekend has spoken of the anger in the country at travel warnings imposed in the wake of the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

Sarah Bevan, 21, is studying about 40 miles from Toronto, and returned to her parents' Darlington home for a short visit.

Toronto is the first place the virus spread outside Asia - with 130 reported cases and 14 deaths.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against unnecessary travel to Canada's largest city. Miss Bevan arrived at Heathrow last week but said no passengers were checked for symptoms on arrival.

"The only notable difference in Toronto is that the streets are deserted because there aren't any tourists there.

"There are a few people going around with face masks on, but there isn't too much panic. People are more angry at the WHO's warning, which they think is unnecessary."

Meanwhile, Barnard Castle School has been criticised for its decision not to quarantine students returning from the Far East.

About 30 Hong Kong nationals were told to cut their holidays short and return to the UK - allowing for a "ten day buffer zone" before they resumed classes at the private County Durham school. Most stayed with friends and relatives, but some went to hotels and guest houses, who claim they were not told of the circumstances.

Marion Harrison, who runs The Nook guesthouse, in Southend Avenue, Darlington, said she was contacted by a woman organising accommodation for four Hong Kong pupils until they returned to school.

She was not told they had just returned from Hong Kong and only found out from the boys themselves days before they left.

She said: "I was not given the full facts. If I had known the boys had only just come from Hong Kong I would have said no."

Barnard Castle headteacher Michael Featherstone said that accommodation arrangements were "beyond the school's sphere of influence" and down to parents.

"There are some schools who have simply accepted pupils back again and we believe we have gone significantly further than the guidelines have suggested."