More than 200 pupils from one school were off sick yesterday.

A fifth of students at Willingdon Community School in Eastbourne are ill with either swine flu, symptoms of swine flu, viruses or bugs.

At least 21 out of 235 have been prescribed the swine flu antiviral medication tamiflu and are recovering at home.

The school has been working with health bosses to monitor the situation each day and at the moment there are no plans for it to close.

West Sussex Primary Care Trust (PCT), which is co-ordinating Sussex's response to swine flu, said there were no reports of other schools in Sussex having such high sickness rates.

In a letter to parents, head teacher Ian Jungius said: “The school experienced a high level of sickness absence towards the end of last week, which is continuing, and we have since been informed that a number of our students have suspected cases of influenza A type H1N1, also known as swine flu.

“We have been advised that no other actions are necessary and the school will remain open as usual.”