A stomach bug which raged through Eastbourne District General Hospital has been brought under control.

More than 200 staff and patients were infected with the gastro-enteritis virus two weeks ago and all non-emergency operations were postponed by the hospital as a precaution.

Yesterday staff reported the bug was under control and more than half the wards affected were clear.

Consultant microbiologist and infection control lead for the hospital Dr Richard Cooke said: "We are now hopeful that the outbreak is past its peak, with fewer and fewer cases of hospital-acquired infection.

"It can be easy to get a false picture of the outbreak, as the virus is very common in the community, but the infection control measures we have put in place at the hospital are now really starting to take effect.

"We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis however until we are absolutely sure that the outbreak is over."