A Bible school and Christian holiday centre in Lancashire has quarantined six students and a teacher after they returned from a trip to Italy.

Jonathan Halsey managing director at Capernwray Hall in Carnforth told Premier: "We are not worried but we wanted to take extra caution and that is why the decision was made, as a cautionary measure not due to concern. None of the people have had any symptoms of Coronavirus." 

On Tuesday a team of six Bible school students and one member of staff returned from a trip to Italy, working with a partner church in Milan.

Although the area the team stayed in was 40 miles from the lockdown areas in northern Italy, the Bible school took the precaution to isolate the team when they arrived back to the UK this week.

A statement on Cepernwray Hall's website explained: "As a precaution, based on direct advice from Public Health England with regard to our specific residential setting and going above and beyond what is currently officially recommended by Public Health England for category 2 situations, it was agreed that immediately on arrival the team would be housed in separate accommodation on the Capernwray campus half a kilometre away from the main hall. 

"The six students and one member of staff have not been in or around the main hall or gardens at Capernwray since their return and will not mix with the wider community. None of our staff has been in physical contact with them and all supplies and welfare arrangements are following guidance from Public Health England. We emphasise that this is purely precautionary as no group members have presented with any symptoms, but we believe it is in everyone's interests to eradicate risk to those already on site and those visiting our site."

There have been 19 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the UK so far, including the first in Wales.