Sick ship heads for Gibraltar

The cruise ship carrying hundreds of British tourists hit with a virulent stomach virus is heading for Gibraltar.

Greek authorities put a disembarkation ban on the £200 million Aurora - a P&O cruise ship - effectively placing it in quarantine.

The giant British liner should have made a scheduled stop at the Athens port of Piraeus at 5am today.

After a five-hour emergency meeting, Health Minister Costas Stephanis said: "To be on the safe side, we have decided that the ship should remain anchored offshore and not come into port."

The Aurora has 1,800 passengers, 400 of whom have been ill. Of the 700 crew, 10 have been sick.

It is thought a passenger brought the Norwalk virus, also known as the winter vomiting bug, aboard and the highly contagious illness quickly spread.

The illness, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting, usually passes within 24 hours. Passengers displaying symptoms were asked to stay in their cabins and meals were brought to them.

The ship left Southampton on 20 October and called at Palma, Sicily, Venice and Dubrovnik.