Guests at a Newquay hotel have hit out after the premises remained open despite a serious outbreak of Norovirus.

Some 30 members of a coach trip from the Sheffield area fell ill with the severe gastric virus when they visited the Beresford Hotel on Narrowcliff in February.

Guests have stated that the hotel owners, hotel owners, the Shearings Group, should have shut the establishment and stopped advertising holidays following the first outbreak so that it could be cleansed throughout. They believe this would have prevented further guests contracting the virus, especially as many are elderly and more susceptible to becoming ill.

Guests have also said they should have at least been warned about the Norovirus outbreak prior to their arrival so they could decide for themselves whether to visit or not.

Shearings has stated it took immediate action to limit the impact of the virus, such as providing information sheets advising guests to use hand gel provided and working with Environmental Health officers at Cornwall Council. The firm also offered guests the chance to stay at its sister hotel in St Ives instead.