A YORK nursing home which cares for the elderly mentally ill has been struck by a sickness and diarrhoea virus.

South Park Care Home in Gale Lane, Acomb, was forced to close its Ebor House unit to new admissions and visitors after residents and staff started suffering symptoms ten days ago.

A total of 30 people, ten staff and 20 residents, on the 49-bed elderly mentally ill unit were affected by the virus.

Only one resident remains ill, but the home is expected to be given the all clear within the next couple of days.

A spokeswoman for the home said: "There has been an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea within the Ebor House unit of South Park and we have taken the relevant measures to mitigate its effect on our residents.

"In line with our usual practice and procedures that unit has been closed to new admissions and visitors.

"We have been liaising closely with the relevant authorities and are taking their advice to ensure that health and well-being of both our residents and staff. We expect the problem to have ended within a couple of days."

The York infection control unit has been working with the home throughout the outbreak and City of York Council's environmental health department has been kept informed of the situation. The home, which is part of the Tamaris group, has a total of 102 residents split into two sections, Ebor House and Jorvik House. No-one in Jorvik House was affected by the virus.

Updated: 16:48 Wednesday, September 18, 2002