Patients and Staff at two Sandwell Hospitals are recovering after being struck down by a sickness bug.

More than 127 patients and 23 members of staff were affected by the norovirus, also known as winter sickness' after wards in Rowley Regis Hospital and Sandwell General Hospital in West Bromwich were found to contain the virus.

The bug, which causes sickness, diarrhoea and fever was thought to have been taken into the hospitals by visitors, as the virus lies dormant for three days before showing symptoms.

The affected wards were shut off, with some being closed for 16 days.

New admissions were sent to other wards as hospital staff turned to drastic measures to prevent the bug from spreading.

Cleaners quickly moved in to deep cleanse the affected areas, which involved stripping out the wards, thoroughly disinfecting all surfaces and washing all the fabric.

Members of senior management were posted on entrance doors to talk to visitors on their arrival, asking them if their visit was necessary and if they had felt ill in previous days.

Patients were also restricted to one visitor at a time and children were not allowed into the wards.

Both hospitals were declared clear of the virus last week when wards were reopened as normal for patients and visitors.

A spokesperson for Sandwell Hospitals said: "We want to thank all the visitors for bearing with us and our restrictive policies.

"The staff worked incredibly hard, having so many wards closed off had a knock-on effect to the rest of the hospital.

"Everyone did a marvellous job.

"We would urge any visitors to the hospital to have some common sense and if they feel ill themselves to stay away.

"Patients in hospital are obviously ill and have lower defences."