A HAMPSHIRE school will remained closed today after more than 250 youngsters have been hit by a vomiting bug outbreak.

Thornden School in Chandler’s Ford has confirmed it will remain closed today to allow additional cleaning.

This comes after students and staff members were affected by an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting - whose cause is still being investigated.

The school said it has received more than 250 reported cases of students being unwell.

As previously reported, the headteacher Su Whelan said that while making no suggestion that the outbreak is linked to food served or prepared in school, they would ensure that all areas where food is produced, stored and served would undergo a thorough deep clean before being used again.

The school planned to carry out a deep clean over the weekend and before Monday.

But the terrible weather prevented that.

In an official statement Ms Whelan said: “While I accept that this will cause additional difficulty for many parents, we have had significant numbers of students and a number of staff who have become unwell and I cannot allow the school to open again until we have done what is needed to prevent further sickness.”

She also said that an additional cleaning will be carried out the following weekend.

And added: “I would like to thank parents for their continued support and helpful comments and I hope that all youngsters and staff are starting to get through the worst of the conditions. The last few days have been difficult for many people and I hope that we are now moving towards a solution.”

The school has been working with Public Health England (PHE) and Environmental Health.

The health authorities said they are doing all they can to prevent the risk of infection spreading further.

A spokesperson for Public Health England South East (PHE SE) said: “Public Health England South East is working with the school, environmental health officers and other colleagues to investigate the source and provide hygiene and infection control advice to help stop the illness spreading. We are also advising the cases that are poorly what to do to aid recovery and prevent them spreading the germ to others.”

The school was expected to open tomorrow.