THREE wards at Colchester General Hospital were closed to prevent the spread of diarrhoea and vomiting.

Dedham ward, which includes the coronary care unit, was closed to new admissions after several patients showed symptoms of viral gastro-enteritis.

Nayland and Wivenhoe wards were then closed as a precaution after a number of patients showed symptoms of the same illness.

However, investigations showed this was not part of the same outbreak and the wards were reopened.

A spokesman for Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust said: “We closed Dedham ward to new admissions after patients started to show symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting.

“Once the patients had been symptomless for 48 hours we were able to reopen the seven coronary care beds yesterday afternoon.

“We will be reviewing the situation with regard to the other beds today.”