VISITING hours remain restricted at three Hampshire hospitals this weekend after an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea.

Patients at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, Andover War Memorial Hospital, and Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital were unable to see loved ones for more than an hour over Christmas.

All wards at the three major hospitals have been affected by the outbreak which means many sick and injured people have spent the best part of the festive period alone.

Wards will be open to visitors between 6.30pm and 7.30pm but children and the elderly are not advised to enter hospital grounds.

Anyone who has experienced flu-like symptoms or diarrhoea and vomiting are asked to avoid coming to the hospital completely.

The situation will be reviewed again on Monday, December 30.