A stomach bug is currently affecting visitors and staff on Lundy Island, the sea cliff climbing paradise situated in the Bristol Channel.

Climbers started to become ill during the August bank holiday weekend, with approximately 60% of visitors affected. Torridge District Council said there is still a "small risk" of infection, and is advising anyone with reduced immune systems to consider postponing their visit. The island will be effectively closed for two days from tomorrow, and no new visitors will be allowed until Tuesday 18 September.

Our roving reporter, BMC Volunteers Officer Martin Kocsis is on holiday on the island, and has caught the bug. He phoned us to say: “I pooed and spewed for a whole day.”

The virus is believed to be airborne and not food or water-related.  Torridge's Environmental Health Department is working closely with the Landmark Trust, the Health Protection Agency and the Infection Control Team at North Devon District Hospital to identify the cause of the outbreak and stop it.  Island managers have put stringent cleaning and disinfecting measures in place to ensure contaminated areas are thoroughly cleaned.

The bug hasn’t completely curtailed climbing activity, and the weather this week has been superb.  Charlie Woodburn, despite feeling a bit peeky, yesterday established possibly Lundy’s hardest route, an awesome overhanging crack line. Another casualty of the bug, Paul Harrison is busily working on the new Climbers’ Club guidebook to the island, which should see the light of day next year. And Neil Dickson is currently removing bolts from some routes on Black Crag, with the intention of climbing the routes without fixed protection.

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