7:58am UK, Tuesday July 21, 2009

Eighteen British schoolchildren and three teachers have been released from a hotel in Beijing after being quarantined for suspected swine flu.

The children were quarantined in a Beijing hotel

The group travelled to China last week for a two-week cultural trip.

Some of them were held after showing signs of the virus.

Four of the youngsters, believed to be aged 13-14 and from two London schools, were admitted to hospital in the Chinese capital with swine flu.

Three attend Central Foundation Boys School in Cowper Street, Hoxton, east London, and one goes to Parliament Hill School in Camden, north London.

The pupils and teachers, who were said to have been in close contact with them, were ordered to stay inside their hotel under strict quarantine procedures.

Those released are now expected to continue their tour.

The students were part of a 1,000-strong group of visitors to China from across the world learning about the country’s language and culture.

More than 500 Britons were understood to be on the trip organised by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, the Department for Children, Schools and Families, the British Council and Chinese organisation Hanban.