A Wetherspoon pub in Tunbridge Wells has been forced to close its doors because of a suspected norovirus outbreak.

The Opera House in Mount Pleasant Road was emptied at 2.45pm after a number of staff were taken ill with the bug which causes diarrhoea and vomiting.

Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “It is important to say, at this stage, that the norovirus has not been confirmed. The council’s environmental health officer has been told.

“Wetherspoon has begun a deep cleaning and sanitising of the whole pub.

“We would hope that the pub will reopen sometime on Saturday afternoon.”

A spokesman for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council added: "Wetherspoon advised the Council’s Environmental Health Team earlier today that they were taking the step of closing the Opera House in Royal Tunbridge Wells following an outbreak of suspected norovirus.

"We are working closely with them and monitoring the situation to ensure steps are taken to contain the outbreak."