Thirteen people, including one child, in Bradford have now been struck down by the E.coli bug in what health chiefs say has become an outbreak.

A total of 25 cases of illness, including three other children, are being investigated by public health officials. At least one of those is expected to be confirmed as the food poisoning organism E.coli O157 within the next few days.

A further 11 suspected food poisoning cases are also being examined. Ten people have been taken to hospital since the outbreak occurred, two of whom remained there last night.

Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT is investigating whether the outbreak is linked to cooked meat sold by D G Spauls butchers at The Parade, Cottingley. The shop remained voluntarily closed today.

It is known that four people who were first struck down by the illness were among its customers. Dr Dee Kyle, deputy director of public health for the tPCT, said: "We are continuing to recommend that, as a precautionary measure, anyone who bought cooked meat at the shop should dispose of it in their household waste.

"Investigations to identify the source of the infection are continuing and a number of samples from contacts are still being tested."

"GPs in the area have been alerted to look out for symptoms associated with the illness and we are offering advice to, and obtaining samples as necessary from, anyone who has been in close contact with those people affected.

"We are asking those people we have already contacted to heed the instructions they have been given, both for the welfare of their own family and the protection of others."

Mark Spauls, who runs a branch in Burley-in-Whardefale, and owns the business, said: "We are not sure what's happening. We hope we are going to be open as soon as possible."

Mr Spauls' brother, Darren, who runs the Cottingley shop, was unavailable for comment.

It has been revealed that Bradford Council's environmental health department notified the Health Protection Agency and the tPCT of the first cases of food poisoning last Tuesday.

A tPCT spokesman said: "The reason why we became aware on May 8 is that people need time to go to their GP to say they are poorly and they have to admit a sample."

E.coli O157 is a severe form of food poisoning which can be contracted from contaminated foodstuffs such as cooked meat, milk and vegetables.

It can be spread from person to person by direct contact, particularly where thorough hand washing is not carried out, or by contact with infected animals.

Young children and older people can often be most severely affected by the illness.

Symptoms include severe or bloody diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain or cramps.

Anyone suffering these symptoms should contact their family doctor in the usual way.

The tPCT is working with Bradford Council's environmental health department and the Health Protection Agency to try to prevent any further spread of the infection.