BOTH wards at Bridport’s Community Hospital have been closed due to an outbreak of norovirus.

Both Ryeberry and Langdon wards are not admitting patients due to the highly contagious winter vomiting bug.

Jane Turner, Matron at Bridport Community Hospital said: “Both the Ryeberry and Langdon Wards at Bridport Community Hospital are currently closed to admissions due to an outbreak of norovirus.

“This does not affect outpatient or day surgery services at the hospital which are operating as usual.

“The two wards are closed for the safety of our patients and to prevent the spread of the virus.

“They will reopen to admissions once the wards have been deep cleaned by our infection control team.

“We hope to have the Ryeberry Ward back to normal this Thursday and Langdon as quickly as possible after that.

“In the meantime, we are asking family and friends of patients currently staying in our wards to telephone us first before planning a visit.”

A statement from the hospital said that in an issue “unconnected to the current situation”, the hospital’s boiler was faulty for a period of 24 hours before Christmas.

“Before Christmas, the hospital’s boiler was faulty for a period of 24 hours before being quickly fixed by engineers“ said Ms Turner.