HEALTH bosses were investigating a food poisoning scare at Bury College yesterday (November 27).

Investigators from Bury Council's environmental health department were called in after staff and students at the college fell ill with sickness and diarrhoea.

The cause of the outbreak was traced to a pre-prepared buffet eaten in a classroom at the college's Market Street centre, but was not associated with the popular restaurant at the site, base of the college's catering course.

A college spokesman said ten staff and students from a 23-strong class on a papermaking course were affected by the illness.

"We believe it may be connected to the buffet, but there is also a possibility that it may have been some other kind of infection, such as an airborne bug," he said.

The college called in environmental health officers after the sickness was first reported this week.

"Not everyone who ate the buffet has fallen ill," said the spokesman. "However, because of our strict hygiene policy, we did not take any chances and called in the environmental health department to help clear the matter up."

Nobody affected by the illness needed hospital treatment, and it is understood that some of those affected may have been on a residential course at an hotel recently.

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