By Mark Donaghy

AN investigation is under way at a Leigh DIY store after 10 members of staff were struck down by a mystery bug.

The workers at Wilkinson, on Silk Street, were hit with a stomach upset at the beginning of the week and were sent home to recover.

The symptoms were so bad for a number of the men and women they consulted their GP.

The police were contacted in case foul play was involved, and there is still a possibility criminal activity could be to blame.

A spokesman for Wilkinson, which employs 60 people in the town, said: "As a family retailer concerned for the health and safety of its employees, we are conducting a full investigation to help determine the cause of these symptoms and establish whether this may be linked to our premises.

"We wish all of the people involved a speedy recovery and can assure them of our support in resolving this occurrence. Further to this we are unable to comment until the findings of the investigation are available."

The DIY store does not have a canteen, but employees can use a staff room to take a break and this is one of the possible sites of the outbreak.

Chief Insp Alex Woolley, at Leigh, said the police were often contacted initially to detect if foul play was involved.