Nursing teams have won praise for their swift response in coping with a swine flu outbreak in a special school.

Staff from the Leicester City community health service were called in to carry out an emergency vaccination programme at West Gate School in New Parks after concerns at the number of people off sick with flu-like symptoms.

Tim Rideout, chief executive of NHS Leicester City, the primary care trust responsible for providing health services, said: "I would like to add my personal thanks to the community health service for the speed with which it responded to this swine flu outbreak.

"Everyone who wanted it was offered a vaccination.

"This service is a tribute to the NHS and shows it at its best."

His comments came as newly- released figures show the number of swine flu cases has risen in Leicestershire and Rutland in the past week. The number of people contacting their GP with flu-like symptoms has gone up from 217 to 280.

Numbers in the city have remained the same at about 130.

Karen Tiller, flu director at NHS Leicester City said the vaccination programme of "priority groups" is under way across Leicestershire and Rutland.

She said: "It is in its relatively early stages, so it is difficult to tell what the take-up rate is. We would expect to have some figures, probably towards the end of next week."