Those 60-plus diners that got sick at the Old Farmhouse pub on Mother’s Day in Somerset, UK, were stricken with Clostridium perfringens.

PHE South West Consultant in Health Protection Dr Bayad Nozad said: “C. perfringens live normally in the human and animal intestine and in the environment.

“The illness is usually caused by eating food contaminated with large numbers of C. perfringens bacteria that produce enough toxin in the intestines to cause illness.”

The Old Farmhouse, owned by brewery chain Hall and Woodhouse, temporarily closed its kitchen while investigations were underway.

Samples were then taken in order to identify the cause of the sickness outbreak.

Dr Nozad said: “It is good news that the majority of affected individuals appear to have recovered quickly.

“Our advice for anyone else affected is to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.

“We are currently working with Environmental Health Officers from North Somerset Council to ensure that the venue have appropriate precautions and procedures in place.”

North Somerset Council environmental health officers have say the venue is now operating under their guidance.