BOSSES at Southampton General Hospital last night closed two wards to new admissions due to outbreaks of diarrhoea and vomiting - just 24 hours after two wards in Winchester were struck down by the vomiting bug.

Relatives are being urged to think before they visit Southampton General, the Princess Anne Hospital or Countess Mountbatten House hospice to help stop it spreading.

Hospital chiefs have not named the two wards involved.

Director of nursing Judy Gillow said: "The winter months are always an extremely pressuring time for our staff, who deal with a large increase in admissions and attendances at the emergency department - particularly among the older population.

"We really appreciate the public helping us so we can protect those who are most vulnerable."