TWO care facilities have been hit by sickness bugs in the past week.

Patients at the Rutson Hospital in Northallerton and residents at The Orchards extra care housing scheme in Brompton have come down with vomiting and diarrhoea.

The Rutson Hospital, operated by Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust, was closed to new admissions for five days as a result of the illness.

It has been confirmed as a norovirus, or winter vomiting virus, and the hospital reopened yesterday.

A spokeswoman for the trust described the outbreak as mild.

She added: "Prompt measures were taken to contain the spread of the virus."

Residents at The Orchards started to show symptoms towards the end of last week. Some members of staff were also hit by the illness.

Jane Bennison, service manager for older people at Broadacres Housing Association, which runs the facility, said people living in eight of the 37 flats have been affected.

"We have taken every precaution we can to stop the spread," she said.

"People have been advised to stay in bed and drink plenty of fluids."

Ms Bennison said some vulnerable residents have been visited by a doctor, but she did not know the exact cause of the illness.