SOME 200 students have reportedly fallen ill at a Bournemouth school, it has been claimed.

As reported, St Katharine's Primary School in Rolls Drive, Hengistbury Head, suddenly closed yesterday due to pupil sickness.

It is understood that pupils had already arrived for the day. Teachers made the decision to close the school during the morning after taking advice from Public Health England.

Parents were contacted and told to collect their children immediately.

One parent, who asked not to be named, told the Daily Echo rumours were circulating about possible norovirus, and that around 200 children may have been affected.

However, a school spokesman who issued a statement, was unable to confirm the cause of any numbers of pupils taken ill.

This official statement reads: "Following prolonged sickness in the school over the last few days, and taking advice from Public Health England, we have had to close the school until Monday and are monitoring the situation.

"We will take further advice as necessary and the school will undertake a deep clean over the weekend."

Meanwhile, a message sent to parents from the school office said: "We have been advised to close the school due to the continued spread of sickness to enable us to have a deep clean across the whole school today and over the weekend. Please collect your child immediately."

The message continued to tell parents and carers they would be updated as necessary, and that the school would be open as usual on Monday.

However, it also stated: "Please do not send your child in on Monday if they feel sick, have stomach cramps or show any other symptoms of sickness, please allow 48 hours following the last bout of illness and let the school know in the usual way via the absence line."