MORE than 100 schoolchildren are being kept at home following concerns of norovirus at the same school.

It is thought 150 children and five members of staff from Hawkedon Primary School in Lower Earley have been suffering with sickness and diarrhoea.

A post on the school's Twitter account said the school would be closed for the next 48 hours as a precautionary measure.

Darrell Gale, consultant in public health at Wokingham Borough Council, said: "There is a suspected, although unconfirmed, outbreak of Norovirus at Hawkedon Primary School.

"The school has been closed for 48 hours and is due to reopen on Thursday.

"Of the 630 pupils, some 150 and 5 staff members are absent.. The school formally reported the suspected outbreak and sought advice from Public Health England, which is now managing the incident.

"Not all children absent have reported symptoms of diarrhoea or vomiting, and although we suspect there is norovirus, this is unconfirmed at present.

"Parents have been fully briefed about symptoms and the 48-hour exclusion period, to ensure children who are potentially still infectious don't return to school and risk infecting others.

"We fully support the school making the necessary arrangements to prevent any further illness in its pupils and staff"

A letter has been sent to parents, advising them to keep their children at home if they show any symptoms.

The school is now set to undertake a deep clean to stop the illness from spreading.

PHE confirmed it was involved in the investigation, with around 130 children thought to be off school.

PHE spokeswoman Jill Morris said it had received reports of vomiting and diarrhoea among children and staff at the Wokingham Borough Council-run school.

"It is very important that anyone suffering from symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea do not attend school or childcare settings for 48 hours," she added.

Wokingham Borough Council and Hawkedon Primary School have been approached for comment.