Baschurch activity site shut by sickness virus

An outdoor activity centre catering for groups of schoolchildren in north Shropshire was forced to close because of an outbreak of the winter vomiting bug norovirus.

PGL at Boreatton Park in Baschurch, near Shrewsbury, was hit by the bug when a group of children from Manchester were staying. But it is due to reopen today after no new cases were reported for several days.

During the outbreak 40 out of 145 staff were hit by the bug, which forced bosses to shut the centre and carry out a deep clean in a bid to stop the infection spreading.

Officials from the Health Protection Agency have been working with PGL bosses to tackle the outbreak.

Ann Fleming, Health Protection Agency West Midlands spokeswoman, today said officials stepped in to help because Boreatton Park, which caters for school trips and children's adventure holidays, is one of the firm's biggest centres.

She said: "The centre is reopening today after having had a bout of norovirus.

"It's one of the biggest centres of that group in the country and it gets lots of visiting groups.

"There was a group from Manchester there when the virus was reported.

"Forty out of 145 staff have been sick. Norovirus is difficult to rid a place of, especially when deep cleaning soft furnishing.

"PGL has called in the HPA and listened to the advice we have given and implemented that advice to do a deep clean and now it's ready to reopen."

She said external contractors were called in to help with the deep clean. She also confirmed the centre attem-pted to reopen for a few days during the outbreak, which began earlier this month, but had to shut again when some more staff felt ill.

Sarah Reynolds, PGL spokeswoman, said: "PGL has been working closely with the Health Protection Agency following the recent outbreak of norovirus at Boreatton Park and have followed all Health Protection Agency and Environmental Health advice.

"We continue to work closely with the HPA at all stages and have been in regular contact. Boreatton Park was closed to guests to prevent further infection and implement infection control policies, including deep cleaning by a specialist external cleaning company.

"We are pleased to advise that working with the HPA, the site will reopen to guests today."