AN all-girls private school has been forced to close early for Christmas after an outbreak of gastroenteritis.

About 90 girls - a quarter of the 360 pupils at Queen Margaret's School at Escrick, south of York - have been struck down with the highly-infectious viral illness.

The North Yorkshire Health Protection Unit advised the headmaster, Dr Geoffrey Chapman, and the board of governors to shut the school to limit any further spread of the virus.

Queen Margaret's is an all-girls school for both boarders and day pupils aged 11 to 18, and the vast majority are full boarders. The school was due to close for Christmas next Wednesday.

A notice posted on the school's website yesterday said it had been hoped to reopen the school during the course of this week because some girls had returned to school on Monday.

But unfortunately there had been two more cases of gastroenteritis reported yesterday morning, and under the circumstances, and on the advice of health bodies, the school had no option but to close.

Gastroenteritis is a very common and infectious illness involving vomiting and diarrhoea.

It is usually caused by viral infection but can also be caused by bacteria and parasites.

Staff will be on site for the foreseeable future to help with arrangements for collection and dispatch of books and belongings.

The website message said: "The school would prefer it if parents waited until Monday before collecting their daughters' belongings. Please inform the housemistress of your arrangements.

"Pupils in Years V, LVI and UVI should ensure that all coursework and personal investigations that were due in before the Christmas holidays are ready to be handed in at the start of the spring term unless you have been otherwise instructed by your teachers.

"Girls can contact their teachers via email if they have any queries regarding their academic work or the forthcoming examination modules."

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, December 07, 2005