50 Leeds Pupils And Staff Taken Ill Abroad

22 September 2015, 12:06 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

50 pupils and staff are in hospital in Belguim after being taken ill on their way home from a school trip.

Their conditions are not thought to be serious or contagious, but they've been kept in overnight as a precaution.

Paul Clayton, Acting Co-Headteacher of Guiseley School said:

"Whilst travelling back from a school trip to Belgium and France, a number of our staff and children were taken ill. Both children and staff have been checked by doctors and while their conditions are not thought to be serious or contagious, as a precaution, they were kept in hospital and monitored overnight.

"Our first priority is always the safety of our children and we are in close contact with parents and carers. Extra staff from the school have now arrived in Belgium to assist further, and working with the Belgian authorities, we are hopeful that the children will be returning home tomorrow. We will continue to work with public health to keep a close eye on all the children in the upcoming days."

Belgian news reports say the children and staff became ill with food poisoning as their buses entered the ferry port.

They said those affected had been taken to seven hospitals in the area after an emergency plan was triggered. The Red Cross was also involved in the operation.

The children are understood to have been on a short trip to France and Belgium to look at First World War related sites.