Pupils at a Birmingham school have been sent home as a precaution after six students returned from a trip to Italy, where coronavirus is on the rise, with flu-like symptoms.

Students at Tudor Grange Academy, Kingshurst, arrived at school on Wednesday (February 26) only to be told minutes later that they had to leave.

Parts of Italy are in lockdown because of the virus and the school trip returned recently from the country.

Text messages were sent to parents this morning, telling them students had been sent straight home.

The texts sent to Tudor Grange parents this morning read:

"Following the return of a school trip to Italy, we have followed advice and will be closing the academy today with immediate effect, for a deep clean. Tudor George Academy

The below letter has also been sent to parents of the students.

The school has told parents to be prepared for the school to be closed until Monday, March 2.

A message from the school sent to parents. Credit: Tudor Grange Academy

The UK's health secretary Matt Hancock has advised anyone returning from northern Italy to self-isolate for two weeks if they show flu-like symptoms.

The NHS says the symptoms to look out for are a cough, a high temperature and a shortness of breath.

Health professionals are urging people to call 111 if they show the symptoms and have been:

to the Hubei province in China in the last 14 days

to Iran, areas of northern Italy in lockdown or 'special care zone' areas in South Korea since February 19

to other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong,Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days

to other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since February 19

in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus

You should not visit a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Instead, stay indoors and avoid close contact with people.