UPDATE: 11.23am
Fri 27 May

A spokeswoman for Newport City Council confirmed that vehicles which which were on the school the yard this morning were doing maintenance work on the rubber surfaces in the infant playground and are not connected with the outbreak of a sickness bug.

UPDATE: 5.42pm
Thur 26 May

OVER 85 pupils at a Milton Junior School have been off sick after a suspected virus outbreak.

85 children and five members of staff have been affected by the virus, which is believed to be gastro-enteritis.

The virus affected 17 pupils on Wednesday 25 but by the end of school on Thursday 85 pupils and five staff members had the symptoms.

Gastro-enteritis is said to be easily spread, and Newport City Council has warned parents to keep their children at home for 48 hours if they show any signs of the symptoms.

Symptoms for the virus are vomiting, diarrhoea and/or abdominal pain.

Newport City Council’s environmental health department has been working alongside Public Health Wales to investigate and a deep clean of the school will take place today [Friday 27] and during half term.

A spokeswoman for Newport City Council said: “A letter has been sent to all parents and carers.

“The letter advises that this is a mild illness probably caused by a virus, but it is very infectious.

“Good hygiene by everyone in the family reduces the risk which means washing hand with soap and warm water after going to the toilet and before preparing or eating food.

She added the school is undergoing thorough clean today and tomorrow with a "deep bleach clean taking place next week and again five days after the half-term holidays.”

A spokesman for Public Health Wales added:“Public Health Wales has today been notified of a significant number of pupils at a school in the Newport area suffering from sickness.

“There are several potential causes including some infections, however we are looking into the situation with colleagues from the environmental health team at Newport County Council.”