A cruise company today agreed to offer refunds to hundreds of people whose holidays were wrecked owing to a virus outbreak on board a ship.

More than 70 of 500 passengers and 15 of the 250-strong crew were struck down by gastroenteritis on the second day of the Van Gogh's tour of Norway's fjords last week.

When the ship docked at Harwich in Essex last night it was detained by health officers and the coastguard and refused leave to sail.

Fourteen people were still suffering symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea. Two passengers in their eighties were carried from the ship on stretchers and taken to hospital. They were later discharged.

Many of the 500 people who had booked places on this week's tour, organised by the Travelscope company, waited on the dockside for several hours before a decision was taken not to set sail.

The operator said that it was likely the ship would now remain at Harwich until Saturday for observation and disinfection.

Nicola Woolcock, a reporter for The Times, said that most of the passengers had since returned home.

She said: "Initially the company thought that the cruise would just be delayed, but eventually it was completely cancelled. The passengers were kept waiting for several hours before being told that they would not be able to go.

"I was allowed to go and see the ship - there are a few crew members wandering around but the rest of the passengers have all gone home."

Leon Hill from Oxford, who was due to board the ship last night, told BBC News that passengers were made to hang around in a "shed" for three hours before being told to go home.

"They didn't provide any food and then said there was free tea and coffee, but it took an hour to get it. Nom one was telling us anything. No one was really being honest about what the situation was," he said.

Tim Knight, a spokesman for Travelscope said today that those who were unable to embark last night would be offered refunds. He added that the firm was still calculating an offer of compensation to those who became ill.

Mr Knight said some passengers who had long journeys home and were unable to board yesterday were provided with overnight accommodation, while others were provided with coach transport.

It is not yet clear what caused the outbreak , believed to be the Norwalk virus, a norovirus that causes diarrhoea and sickness. The ship was detained by the Maritime Coastguard Agency at the advice of the local Director of Public Health.

Captain Andy Rudge, of the coastguard agency, said they regretted having to take the action to prevent the ship from sailing, but passenger health was the priority.

In a statement today, Travelscope said: "We are very sorry that the holidays of some passengers were affected by this virus, the exact nature of which is being investigated.

"The vessel and its crew will be monitored for 48 hours and it is expected that the Van Gogh will resume its cruising programme with the next scheduled departure on Saturday June 3."

Mr Knight said the passengers were all British and had paid between around £400 and £1,400 for their holiday.

The 15,420-tonne ship was built in 1975 and is owned by Club Cruise, based in the Netherlands. She was due to visit Bergen, Flam, Gudvangen and Rosendal.

She was refitted in 1999 and has 250 cabins, a fitness centre with sauna and a seawater swimming pool. According to her owners she carries a 250-strong crew comprised mostly of Ukrainian officers.

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