A child from Dorset is being treated in hospital for complications following an E. coli infection as investigations reopen into a previous cluster.

Tests are being carried out on another child and three other suspected cases linked to one household.

A cluster of the rare E. coli O55 in Dorset was investigated last year but no common source was found.

Public Health England is reviewing data from the last outbreak to examine possible links with current cases.

The child is one of two from Dorset who are currently in hospital with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) – a complication of E. coli infection.

Results of tests for the strain of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) infection are awaited on the second child.

Ten people in the Blandford area of Dorset were diagnosed with E. coli O55 between July and November 2014.

A further two cases were identified in Portland, four in Bournemouth and Poole as well as three cases outside the county which had links to people from Dorset.