THE headteacher of a Cumbrian school has reassured concerned parents that expert guidance has been followed in the wake of a ski trip to northern Italy.

During half-term students from William Howard School in Brampton took part in their annual school ski trip to northern Italy, where students and staff stayed in the resort of Ponte Di Legno.

Parts of northern Italy have been placed in quarantine as authorities scramble to contain the spread of the virus.

However, the nearest affected town to the ski resort that the children visited is more than 120 miles to the south, with the area in which the resort is located classed as a 'category two' risk area.

The guidance by Public Health England for anyone who has visited a 'category two' area is to only self quarantine if you begin to experience symptoms.

Only those that visit 'category one' areas are asked to self quarantine automatically.

Part of the region of Lombardy - which contains Ponte Di Legno - is categorised as 'category one' but not the part where the school children visited.

After being approached by the News & Star, headteacher at the school Chris McAree reassured parents that they were following national health guidance "to the letter", and were in constant dialogue with staff, parents and pupils to monitor the situation.

A statement on the school's website said: "As I am sure you are aware from the media, some parts of northern Italy have now been placed in quarantine by the Italian authorities, in order to stop the potential spread of the coronavirus.

"The nearest town that has been placed in quarantine is over 120 miles to the south of the ski resort in which our students stayed, and it is imperative to emphasise that the students and staff were never in these areas."