Terry and Eddie Sweeney were travelling back from New Zealand

A third UK school has shut after a girl aged 14 was diagnosed with swine flu.

The pupil at South Hampstead High School in London is the third British person to contract the virus without first travelling to Mexico or the US.

An 11-year-old girl from south-west London and a man from Ayrshire have also contracted swine flu, bringing the number of UK confirmed cases to 18.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said the outbreak was less severe than first thought, but people should "play safe".

Classrooms at South Hampstead High School, attended by the child from Barnet who is in year nine, have been closed until at least Thursday.

Antiviral drugs have been been offered to her year group and special arrangements were being made for upcoming exams.

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In a letter posted to parents on its website, the independent school said the girl was "at home and well".

South Hampstead is the third UK school to close since the outbreak, following Downend School in South Gloucestershire and Paignton Community and Sports College in Devon.

However, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said the school attended by the 11-year-old will remain open as the child "did not attend school while symptomatic".

The Department of Health (DoH) said the child had recently returned from the US.

Several Britons are still under quarantine in a Hong Kong hotel after a guest there became China's first confirmed case of swine flu.

Eddie Sweeney and his wife Terry, from Buckinghamshire, checked into the Metropark Hotel on Thursday for two days but were told on Friday they and about 300 other guests would be confined to the building for a week.

Mr Sweeney told BBC News: "Effectively we're in our rooms, apart from going to collect meals. Some of us are using the stairs as a way of exercise. Otherwise we're confined.

"It's very frustrating. We were on our way home - I think it would probably have been worse if we were on our way out - but we do accept the fact that this is the way the Chinese do it.

"I have to say they've been very efficient, polite and helpful at all times."

Scottish Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said there was one further probable swine flu case in Scotland, in addition to the four already confirmed.

It involves a person from Fife who travelled from Las Vegas to Edinburgh via London on 30 April.

She said eight of the 10 people regarded as close contacts of the man from Ayrshire on flight BE7096 on 30 April had been traced, none of whom were showing any symptoms.

He is thought to have picked up swine flu while in Texas and was diagnosed with the virus on Sunday.

The number of cases in London stands at six, while other cases have been confirmed in Newcastle, Oxfordshire, Devon, Merseyside, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Central Scotland.

The six-year-old girl in Oxfordshire has made a full recovery, doctors have told the BBC.

Health chiefs are awaiting the results of more than 700 further tests.

Mr Benn told GMTV swine flu was so far "relatively mild and responds well to treatment here in the UK so far but we have got to remain vigilant".

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Dr John McCauley, a virologist at the National Institute for Medical Research, said it was still important to prepare a good vaccine.

"It's certainly not a savage variety like the bird flu is. But still, it's still like seasonal flu - and seasonal flu does kill," he said.

Two previous cases had seen Britons falling ill without having travelled to Mexico.

Barry Greatorex, 43, from South Gloucestershire, had been in contact with a traveller to the country.

And Graeme Pacitti of Falkirk was infected through contact with the first British people to develop the flu.

The HPA said all those in the UK who have contracted the disease appear to be suffering mild symptoms.

Information leaflets about how to reduce the chances of spreading infection are due to begin arriving in people's homes from next Tuesday.

Members of the public can call 0800 1513513 for recorded information about swine flu. The number for NHS 24 in Scotland is 08454 24 24 24.

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