PUBLIC health officials are investigating an outbreak of the food poisoning bug E.coli after 10 people were admitted to hospital.

Two cases have been confirmed in Eccleston near Chorley and at least eight more are under investigation, with the majority of patients from the Eccleston area.

A spokesman for South Lancashire NHS Health Authority said the 10 were making "satisfactory progress" after receiving treatment at Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital.

Several of the patients are thought to have bought meat from the delicatessen counter in Kwik Save's Eccleston supermarket, which has since been closed as a precaution, with the store advising customers who have purchased meat or cheese from the counter after November 1 this year to return the products as soon as possible.

A spokesman for Kwik Save said: "We are concerned that there could be a food safety risk to consumers who have bought meat and cheese from the deli counter in our Eccleston store.

"As a matter of caution we would ask them not to eat the product, but to return it to the store where we will give them a full refund."

He added: "While the environmental health team have not yet established the probable source of a case of food poisoning we believe that this is the right action to take.

"We will provide our customers with further information as a soon as the results of their investigations are available."

E.coli 0157 is a bacteria which causes a potentially serious form of diarrhoea. It is most commonly acquired from meat or diary products and can be passed from person to person within a household.

Children and the elderly can be particularly vulnerable to the infection. The spokesperson added: "Personal hygiene, including hand washing before and after handling food, using the toilet or changing nappies is crucial in preventing the spread of infection.

"It is also of vital importance that cooked and uncooked meats are not stored together.

"People who are concerned about symptoms of diarrhoea should contact their family doctors or NHS Direct for advice. It is advisable not to take over the counter medications for diarrhoea or antibiotics for this form of illness without seeking medical advice first."

The number for NHS Direct is 0845 4647.