A WARD at Medway Maritime Hospital has had to be shut due to the winter vomiting bug.

Wakeley Ward was closed to new admissions on Tuesday following the outbreak of Norovirus.

Medway NHS Trust has told friends and relatives of patients already on the ward to stay away to stop the infection from spreading.

A spokesman said the ward would undergo deep cleaning and reopen on Thursday.

Doctors across Medway have reported cases of the bug, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

There is no specific treatment, but victims should not mix with other people until at least 72 hours after their symptoms disappear.