Flights to Mexico from Bristol Airport have been cancelled, and seven people from Wiltshire are being tested in Bristol for possible swine flu.

Holiday firm First Choice said all flights from Bristol to Cancun and Cozumel up to and including Friday, May 8 have been cancelled.

The company said people currently on holiday in Mexico will be flown back to the UK.

A hotline telephone number for passengers affected has been set up - 0844 871 0701.

And doctors investigating several potential cases of swine flu across the country warned that not everyone suffering flu-like symptoms would be infected.

Maggie Rae, joint director of public health for Wiltshire, said the authorities "fully expect" that members of the public will contact their GP or NHS Direct with concerns, but not everyone will require further testing.

Her comments came as Wiltshire Primary Care Trust confirmed seven people from the county were being tested at a Health Protection Agency (HPA) facility in Bristol. Results were expected later today.

Dr Rae said: "Like elsewhere in the UK, there are a small number of Wiltshire residents who have recently returned from Mexico and who have contacted their GP or NHS Direct with concerns about possible flu-like symptoms.

"This is to be expected, and in the coming days and weeks we would fully expect that other members of the public will contact their GP or NHS Direct seeking advice.

"These numbers are likely to change regularly, so it would be very difficult to provide helpful information with any certainty, and this is why we will not be providing minute-by-minute updates.

"Some of the people who contact their doctor or NHS Direct may require further assessment and treatment, others will not. If a doctor or nurse believes that testing for swine flu is required, there is a simple swab test which can be done. So far, there are no confirmed cases in Wiltshire."

Earlier, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government's chief medical officer, urged anyone who thought they may be suffering from swine flu to stay at home.

He said there were "simple steps" that everyone could take to help prevent the spread of the potentially deadly virus.

"Most importantly, if you have come back from Mexico or one of the affected countries and have flu-like symptoms, stay at home and call your GP or NHS Direct," he said.

Are you due to go to a country affected by swine flu such as Mexico, Canada or the USA, or do you know someone who is?

You can call the Bristol Evening Post newsdesk on 0117 934 3330 or email us.