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Visitors have been banned from a hospital for the third time in two months due to the norovirus bug.

Several wards at East Surrey Hospital were closed in November and again on 18 December in a bid to contain the bug.

The hospital, which serves parts of Surrey and Sussex, said the virus had affected patients in five wards in the latest outbreak.

In a statement, the hospital said the situation would be reviewed "on a daily basis".

In a statement, the hospital trust said all visitors were being asked to keep away in a bid to keep the hospital open and ready for those who were seriously ill.

Paul Simpson said: "We know that it can be upsetting for patients and their loved ones when visiting is not allowed, but we hope everyone appreciates it is the only way to control the spread of this particularly contagious strain of norovirus."