Parents have been told to keep their children at home following an outbreak of scabies.

Letters have been sent to parents of all Year 11 pupils at Blatchington Mill School, Hove, warning them to keep their children at home if they suspect they have caught the skin disease.

Four children have been diagnosed with the contagious condition which causes severe itchiness.

Headteacher Neil Hunter said: "We have sent a letter out to parents telling them to keep their child at home and take them to see their GP if they suspect their child is suffering from scabies. The worst thing they could do is send them to school.

"We have explained to students what the disease is and have told them what symptoms to look for."

Mr Hunter said the cases had been tracked to a couple of siblings and their friends.

Dr Angela Iversen, consultant in communicable disease control in East Sussex, said scabies could be treated with a cream available over the counter.

She said: "It is not uncommon to have cases of scabies and often happens within families. It is uncomfortable but easy to treat.

"In cases involving families we advise all people sleeping under the same roof are treated at the same time because the incubation period can be up to six weeks."