PUPILS from Upton High School have been quarantined in China following an outbreak of swine flu amongst a group of British schoolchildren.

Neil Mellor, Jessika Mowles, Lucinda Dodd, Kay Harrison, Kevin Lontin, Jennifer Mellish and Jonathan Johnson from Years 9, 10 and the sixth form spent one day in a hotel in Beijing with other schoolchildren on the trip organised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, the British Council and the Confucius Institute.

None of the Upton children was diagnosed with infection by the H1N1 virus and the group of seven and their teacher Paul Collinson were allowed to fly out to Xian to complete the second leg of their 12-day trip. Of the 600 British children in China, 12 have been hospitalised with swine flu.

Headteacher Jane Holland said: “I am relieved to report that they are resuming their itinerary and enjoying their trip.

“I have been following events closely in the press and have kept in constant contact with Paul by phone.”

The group were asked to wear masks during their stay at the hotel and during the internal flight. They return to Chester on Monday.