Guiseley School children in Belgian hospital after food poisoning incident

A large number of children and members of staff from a Leeds school have been taken to hospital in Belgium after they were taken ill while returning from a school trip.

Local reports suggested as many as 45 children from Guiseley School were involved in the food poisoning incident in Zeebrugge.

In a statement to parents, the school said: "Many of you will be aware that whilst travelling back from a school trip to Belgium and France, a number of our staff and children were taken ill. Both children and staff have been checked by doctors and while their conditions are not thought to be serious or contagious, as a precaution, some were kept in hospital and are being monitored."

The statement said: "Our first priority is always the safety of our children. Extra staff from school have arrived in Belgium to assist further, and working with the Belgium authorities, we are hopeful that most of the children will be starting their journey home today.

"We are in close contact with parents and carers giving telephone updates. If you are a parent/carer of a child on the trip please do not hesitate to contact us for an update on the situation."

Belgian news reports said the children and staff became ill with food poisoning as their buses entered the ferry port.

They said those affected had been taken to seven hospitals in the area after an emergency plan was triggered. The Red Cross was also involved in the operation.

The children are understood to have been on a short trip to France and Belgium to look at First World War related sites.