12 children in hospital with E Coli
A group of 12 children were being treated in hospital following an outbreak of the vomiting bug E Coli, health officials said.
The youngsters are thought to have caught the bug after visiting Godstone Farm in Surrey.
The Health Protection Agency said there had been 36 cases of E Coli in the outbreak.
The children's attraction has closed to the public.
The farm is popular as it boasts a large range of animals which children can pet and feed. During the peak of the school holidays it receives up to 2,000 visitors a day.
The outbreak is believed to have started on August 8.
Dr Angela Iversen, director of the Surrey and Sussex Health Protection Unit, said: "This is a large outbreak of this infection.
"The farm owners are co-operating fully and we are working closely with them and with colleagues across health and local authorities to investigate the source. Our advice is that the farm should remain closed to visitors while this work goes on."
The bacteria causes diarrhoea and can lead to kidney failure, especially in young children.
A statement on the farm's website read: "Due to an E-Coli outbreak, we have closed the farm until we can make sure it is quite safe for you all to visit us."
