An Ashford mum has spoken about what it is like to have two young children fall ill with swine flu.

After caring for her sons, Callum, four, and two-year-old Thomas when they caught the virus, Amanda Holness of Quantock Drive, now has the illness herself.

Mrs Holness hopes her experience will provide an insight for other mothers.

The family are among a rising number being diagnosed with the highly contagious virus in the Ashford area, with schools particularly badly hit.

Mrs Holness said: "My throat is very sore and I can’t stop coughing.

"My husband as yet hasn’t caught it. Thankfully he has been okay and has been running the house, going out for any shopping needed, etc.

"It has been a very long week; I’m so tired from being up all night with the little ones."

To read her full account, see the Kentish Express, out now.

The swine flu virus has spread among pupils at schools in the Ashford area over the past fortnight.

The latest school to be affected badly by the virus, in the week schools break up for the summer holidays, is Norton Knatchbull Boys Grammar in Ashford which reported around 20 cases of pupils being affected.

Other schools that have recorded cases of the swine flu include Highworth Girls Grammar with one confirmed case, Homewood in Tenterden with three confirmed cases and Christchurch School.

Ashford School also had a confirmed case.

Several primary schools have also reported cases.

With schools now preparing for the long summer break it is hoped the spread of the virus among pupils will naturally diminish.