Parents at Chipping Sodbury School have been sent a letter aimed at calming fears after the father of a Year 8 pupil visited the school after contracting swine flu.

Barry Greatorex, of Kestrel Close, was the first person to catch swine flu from contact with an infected person in England.

He contracted the virus on the weekend before last from a colleague who had been on holiday to Mexico.

Mr Greatorex, aged 43, went to a parents' evening at his son's school last Monday – before he had fully developed the symptoms.

Health bosses also confirmed no pupils tested for swine flu at Downend School, after a classmate was confirmed as having contracted the disease in Mexico, had caught it.

There had been no further cases identified in the greater Bristol area last night – although there were unconfirmed reports of a suspected case in Fishponds.

Chipping Sodbury School's head teacher Phil Lidstone and Dr Chris Payne, director of public health for NHS South Gloucestershire, have written to parents.

The letter, sent from Chipping Sodbury School, has also been posted on the school website and states teachers are working with South Gloucestershire Council, the Health Protection Agency and the NHS to minimise any potential spread of swine flu.

It said: "The Health Protection Agency has traced anyone who had close contact with both of these patients (the other being the pupil at Downend School).

"You may hear that the parent visited the parents' evening for parents of a Year 8 pupil at this school over a week ago. I would like to reassure you that there is very little risk to either you or your child.

"The Health Protection Agency is testing anyone who had close contact with the parent and subsequently becomes unwell. So far, all the people who have been tested as a result of contact with the parent have tested negative for swine flu. The child has also tested negative for swine flu.

"In line with national guidance the school will remain open as normal because there are no positive cases in connection with it. Tamiflu is not being issued for the same reason."

Nurses were due to attend the school to answer any questions parents and pupils had about swine flu.

The Greatorex family were due to speak with Jamie's head teacher at Chipping Sodbury School, before a decision was taken on whether to allow the youngster to return.

Project manager Mr Greatorex has to remain in quarantine until tomorrow. He says his health is improving but he needs to complete a course of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.

His wife Fran, 46, and their son Jamie, 13, are staying with him, and neither has shown any symptoms.

Mr Greatorex said: "I'm improving each day. I was showing signs of recovery before starting the Tamiflu but that might be speeding up the recovery process.

"All that's left now is a cough. It wasn't really that bad and my biggest concern was whether my wife and son would become ill but they are still absolutely fine.

"The decision about Jamie going to school will depend on the likely reaction to him from other parents and pupils."

Mr Greatorex was diagnosed with swine flu after initially thinking he just had a bad cold.

Jamie had already been to school in the early days of his dad's illness but was told to stay at home after the diagnosis was made.

Mrs Greatorex, 46, is a child minder and took the decision not to have any children in as soon as her husband started feeling unwell.

At Downend School a 12-year-old girl from Year 7 who had been on holiday to Mexico was confirmed as having swine flu and the school was closed on Friday as a precaution. Year 7 pupils and staff were given Tamiflu and the school is undergoing a deep clean before re-opening on May 11.

A man suffering flu-like symptoms was admitted to Frenchay Hospital yesterday by paramedics wearing protective masks and clothing.

The patient was taken from an address at Gill Avenue, Fishponds, after his GP referred him to Great Western Ambulance Service as an urgent case. No one from Frenchay Hospital would comment last night on claims that the man was suspected to be suffering from swine flu.