Health chiefs are probing the cause of an outbreak of a mystery stomach bug which has led to more than 100 staff at a Southend company being taken ill.

The workers at the Royal Bank of Scotland's credit card centre reported similar symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea and many of the 100-plus people affected have been off work for a couple of days, it was revealed on Friday.

Experts from the South Essex Health Authority were last week meeting with company bosses at the centre in Priory Crescent in an effort to find out what has caused the illness which has swept through the building.

They were joined by officers from Southend Council's environmental health department.

David Connor, head of environmental health, said on Friday: "We were involved in investigating cases of stomach upsets amongst employees of the Royal Bank of Scotland all day yesterday.

"We are working with the South Essex Health Authority and samples have been taken to the public health laboratory for tests. We expect to receive the results later today."

A spokeswoman for the bank, which employs around 850 people at the centre, confirmed that many staff had been taken ill with the bug.

She said: "Around 100 staff have been sent home, as well as any pregnant women. It is believed to be a 48-hour stomach bug. We have made provision and service will not be affected."

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