More patients at hospitals across Worcestershire have been struck down by the Norovirus sickness bug which is sweeping the county, it was confirmed today.

Bosses said the number of patients in hospitals who had contracted the virus had risen to 135.

When the outbreak was confirmed earlier this week at Worcester and Redditch hospitals there were about 100 cases.

The outbreak has led to operations at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and the Alexandra Hospital being cancelled to help prevent the spread of the infection, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Four operations have also been cancelled at Kidderminster Hospital although health officials say that it has not been as badly hit as others because it deals with mainly day-case patients.

So far one ward at Kidderminster has been closed to admissions and 13 at the other two acute hospitals.

Health chiefs appealed again for people to refrain from visiting friends and relatives in hospital unless it was absolutely necessary and to take stringent hygiene precautions.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust, said: "In the hospitals we are extremely stringent about hygiene and isolation procedures. But it would be a big help if people did not come into hospital to visit friends and relatives if they have any symptoms."