FIVE wards remained closed at York Hospital today as health staff battle the reappearance of a dreaded winter bug.

The return of norovirus - which causes violent vomiting and diarrhoea - over the weekend led to bosses at the Wigginton Road site sending out an appeal to visitors to help them combat its spread.

It originally led to seven wards being shut off to new admissions, but a spokeswoman for York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said they were hoping to reopen two of these during today.

Some bays in other areas of the hospital were also closed at the weekend in an attempt to control the highly-contagious virus, which has dogged the site's operation for longer than expected over the last two years.

And its re-emergence comes just days after the hospital introduced its new visitors' code, which included banning flowers and plants from being taken onto wards and issuing handwashing guidance, as it looks to fight infections.

People are being asked not to visit if they have signs or symptoms of norovirus and to stay away until they have been clear of these for at least 48 hours, as well as to avoid bringing children into the hospital wherever possible.

They can also call the hospital before visiting to find out if a ward is closed and, if an area is affected by norovirus, to appreciate that visits will not be allowed except in special circumstances.

The trust said the latest norovirus problems were due to the bug being brought in from outside.