A group of children linked to a playgroup in Angus have fallen ill with E.coli.

Health board officials confirmed the playgroup has closed voluntarily and temporarily and parents from both the group and the local primary school have been issued with advice.

An outbreak of E.coli in July led to the death of a three-year-old girl from Dunbartonshire.

Dr Jackie Hyland, consultant in public health medicine, said: "NHS Tayside and Angus Council are together investigating a small number of linked cases of E.coli O157 infection.

"The risk to the general public remains low and those affected have received appropriate medical treatment and advice."

NHS Tayside said it is monitoring the children affected by the bug, which causes stomach cramps, diarrhoea, fever and vomiting, and all have received medical treatment.

The health board added that possible sources of the bug and "routes of transmission" are being investigated, while measures have been put in place to prevent it spreading further.

At the weekend, Food Standards Scotland ordered the withdrawal from sale of a batch of Lanark White ewe milk cheese, following the July outbreak.

The cheese's manufacturer, South Lanarkshire-based Errington Cheese, said its own testing proved all its cheese was "safe to eat".

The young girl who died was among 20 confirmed cases of E. coli O157 which were identified in July. Eleven of the cases required hospital treatment.

The recent outbreak comes as the public have been warned not to eat shellfish from certain areas of Argyll after routine monitoring tests identified raised levels of algal toxins.

Argyll and Bute Council ordered the closure of harvesting in Loch Striven, Ardcastle Bay,Loch Fyne, Kilfinichen Bay, Loch Melfort and Seil Sound after environmental health officers identified the problem.

A council spokesman said there is also a potential risk of raised levels of E.coli in Loch Creran, Loch na Cille and Loch Riddon after tests on common cockles.

The spokesman added: "Eating shellfish such as cockles, mussels, oysters or razor fish from these areas may pose a risk to human health and notices to warn the public and casual gatherers have been posted at various locations on the shore.

"Commercial shellfish harvesters in these areas have been contacted by the council and steps taken to postpone harvesting until bacterial levels subside."It is a sensible precaution to avoid eating shellfish from this area until further notice.

"However, Loch Craignish has been reopened as toxin levels there are now within permitted limits.