A SOUTHAMPTON school is being evacuated after pupils were put in isolation over coronoavirus fears.

St Mary's Independent School in Bitterne Park is currently on lockdown following the discovery.

It comes after students at the school were struck down with symptoms similar to the virus.

The students at the Midanbury Lane school have put themselves in isolation after being checked by medical professionals at Southampton General Hospital.

The school will be closed while it is closed for deep cleaning to remove any potential traces of the virus.

St Mary's is in contact with Public Health England and monitoring the situation.

It comes as the number of people in the UK diagnosed with the conditions doubled to eight.

A statement sent to parents from headteacher Claire Charlemagne says: "I am sorry to inform you that a family with children at the prep and senior departments who have recently travelled to the region affected by coronavirus have developed symptoms similar to those presenting with the coronavirus, and having been checked by medical professionals at Southampton General Hospital have been placed in isolation [outside the hospital].

"As a school, our first priority is to keep our children and community safe.

"We have taken advice on this situation from Public HealthEngland and the Natural Health Service.

"We have been advised that we need to take all steps reasonably practicable to prevent the spread of this virus.

"We have therefore taken the decision to close the school immediately in order to undertake a thorough deep clean, and to allow any potential traces of the virus to be removed.

"We will close today, tomorrow, and Wednesday."

The school is based on 17 acres of land and its website says it provides a "warm and caring environment where pupils achieve some of the best results in the country."

It was established in 1922 by the Brothers of Christian Instruction is connected to more than 124 sister schools in 26 countries across the world.