Hospital bosses were forced to deny reports that the Royal Lancaster Infirmary was closed.

Rumours which spread on social media led to people contacting the hospital to ask if any patients with coronavirus were being treated at RLI.

But the trust that manages the hospital said it was fully open.

A spokesperson for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, which also runs Furness General, said: "Patients with suspected infectious diseases are regularly admitted to our hospitals for diagnostic tests and treatment.

"We have well tested procedures in place for treating these patients and there is no risk to other patients.

"We will not be responding to any enquiries about reports of this activity in our hospitals."

The spokesman added: "Please don’t call the hospital asking about the condition of patients.

"We will not discuss this kind of information with anyone."