Elite city swimmers arrived home safely in Norwich last night after being struck down with a sickness bug while training on a Spanish island.

The City of Norwich Swimming Club took 30 schoolchildren and students to Mallorca on Monday to train in the resort.

But almost half of them fell ill and one of the swimmers was taken to hospital overnight.

On Tuesday a suspected virus began to sweep through the town of Colonia Sant Jordi, where the club was staying on the south of the island.

Tourists fell ill with vomiting and diarrhoea, including 12 of the Norwich swimmers.

Manager at the Hotel Sur Mallorca, Jordi Fuster, said the swimmers were among around 40 guests who became ill.

But Mr Fuster said the illnesses were not restricted to the hotel or caused by food served.

The athletes had been training at the Best Swim Centre on the Mediterranean island.

A representative from the centre said: 'There seems to be a virus which has gone around the town.

'A small group of swimmers were ill for 24 hours but left in high spirits.'

He said the virus was not linked to the pool.

A doctor was called to the hotel and early tests showed the sickness was caused by a virus.

Further results from the tests are expected today.

The members of the swimming team who did not fall ill were kept in separate rooms, while waiting to fly home to London City airport last night.

Most had recovered by Sunday, but training was cancelled.

One parent said: 'They have all waited a year to go on this trip and it is such a shame that it has ended like this.'

The club is based at the Hewett School and the UEA Sportspark.

No one from the club was in a position to comment last night.

•Were you or your children on the swimming trip to Mallorca? Contact reporter Tom Bristow on 01603772313 or email tom.bristow@archant.co.uk.