NEARLY 300 pupils have been struck down by a gastric-flu bug at a school in Ramsbottom.

The highly infectious Norwalk-Like Virus, or NLV, which causes sickness, diarrhoea and fever, is sweeping across the North-west.

Education chiefs say Bolton has not been hit hard so far but some schools have had a few cases this week.

At St Mary's RC Primary School in Horwich headteacher Claire Massingham said 20 out of its 250 pupils were off with the bug. A handful of pupils went home from Brandwood Primary School yesterday and numbers are down 20 on last week.

Nearly a third of the 1,000 pupils at Woodhey High School, Ramsbottom, have been affected and schools in Manchester have reported spates.

Chris Swift, assistant director of education, said: "There are some cases in Bolton but it is not significant."

Dr Robert Aston, Bolton's consultant in communicable disease control, advised people to take precautions.

He said: "The golden rule is hygiene. Washing hands after going to the toilet and before meals will stop the virus spreading."

He said ill pupils should be kept at home to avoid further spreading.

The number of people struck down with a viral infection on hospital wards in Scotland was today expected to rise. Twelve hospitals across Scotland have now been affected by the virus, known as the winter vomiting bug.

Last night health chiefs at Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary revealed 29 more patients and staff had come down with the illness, taking the total there to 283.