A FOOD outlet in the Ribble Valley is at the centre of an investigation into the latest E.coli outbreak to afflict East Lancashire.

Six people have been struck down by the potentially deadly food poisoning bug and public health experts are linking three of the cases.

Health officials would only confirm the probe was concentrating on a food outlet, which had now voluntarily stopped serving food, in East Lancashire.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph understands the premises are in the Ribble Valley.

All the E.coli victims have been struck down in the past 15 days. Laboratory tests have confirmed the E.coli diagnosis in five of the six cases, with three of them having exactly the same strain of the infection.

Public health experts are waiting for confirmation of the other case.

Two victims are from the Ribble Valley and the others are from Blackburn, Pendle and Rossendale and Padiham. The woman from Padiham was treated in the intensive care unit at Burnley General Hospital.

A spokeswoman for East Lancashire Health Authority said: "Three of the six people have the same type of E.coli. One possible lead which is being investigated is an East Lancashire food outlet.

"The premises have voluntarily stopped serving food although it is still open. The investigations are continuing."

Public health officials, who were alarmed by the outbreak, are normally notified of about 50 E.coli cases a year.

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