STOMACH bug fears forced a retirement home to close its doors to visitors this week.

Springfields retirement apartments, owned by Weaver Vale Housing Trust, are currently closed to the public.

Helsby Age Concern group was due to hold its 10th anniversary celebrations there yesterday.

Springfields house manager Allison Worrall said the closure was nothing to do with winter vomiting virus affecting hundreds of thousands nationally.

She said: “A couple of residents have been upset with a tummy bug. I have not been concerned with norovirus.

“Not knowing whether it was the bug, and knowing how bad normal gastroenteritis can be, we took the precaution to stop visitors. It should open on Monday.”

Care Leader Jenn Thomas, who with Maggie Jones runs Age Concern Helsby at the Greenwood Centre, said: “We have postponed until it’s calmed down, so hopefully next week.

“We would have had a good lunch, we had some ladies performing for them, and then we were going to cut a big birthday cake.”

Advice to prevent the spread of a virus, which causes violent vomiting and diarrhoea, has been issued by bosses at Halton Hospital in a bid to prevent avoidable bed closures.

Norovirus outbreaks have forced the closure of beds and wards at several UK hospitals, but so far Halton General has not been affected this winter.

Kath Holbourn, director of nursing and governance at Halton Hospital, said: “What we would like people to think about is whether they or anyone close to them such as family, friends or colleagues have had diarrhoea, vomiting or fever within the last 72 hours.

“If this is the case, then they should avoid visiting the hospital. If they feel they can’t postpone their visit they should contact the ward for advice prior to coming to the hospital.”