FORTY people have fallen ill after visiting a garden centre on Mother’s Day.

An investigation has been launched by public health and council officials into a diarrhoea and vomiting outbreak linked to the Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Three Cocks.

Public Health Wales said it and Powys council’s environmental health department are investigating both the source of the outbreak and the organism causing the illness. The garden centre remains open for business and is co-operating full with the investigation into the outbreak.

Officials have also said the illness is short lived and all the patients are recovering well at home.

Sion Lingard, consultant in health protection for Public Health Wales, said: "We are aware of 40 people who have become unwell after visiting the Old Railway Line Garden Centre and officers of Powys County Council are continuing to speak to those affected to determine the source of their infection.

"At this time all those who have reported being unwell were at the premises on Sunday, March 6. Therefore the focus of the investigation is on what may have occurred there on that day."

Garden centre owners, Mark and Christina Cleary, said in a statement, they have been co-operating with the investigation.

They said: "We have been contacted by a small number of customers who visited us on Sunday, March 6 who have since experienced symptoms closely matching those of the nasty norovirus which is currently affecting areas of South Wales.

"We have since co-operated fully with the local environmental health department who have also visited us and complimented us on our usual high standards of hygiene, confirming our five star food hygiene rating and thanked us for our co-operation whilst investigations are ongoing.

"We would like to wish all those affected a full and speedy recovery and we would also like to thank our customers for their understanding and ongoing support."

Public Health Wales said anyone who is unwell at any time with diarrhoea or vomiting should seek advice from their GP or NHS Direct Wales if their symptoms are severe or last for more than 48 hours.

Anyone who has been ill should not return to work or school for 48 hours after their last symptoms to prevent spreading infection to others.

Mr Lingard added: "It is also important to avoid spreading infection to other people at home, and people who are unwell should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after using the toilet and before preparing food, and should not share towels with other people."