Halstead schools are prepared for the worst following the first two cases of suspected swine flu in Braintree.

The two people believed to have swine flu are both employees at Braintree Council.

One is a woman who works at the council's headquarters in Causeway House, Bocking End, who became unwell at the end of last week.

The second person works at Millennium Tower in Lakes Road, which is where the waste and recycling teams are based.

Schools in and around Halstead have action plans in place to deal with a potential outbreak.

Mike Murray, headteacher of Ramsey College, Halstead, said: “We’re anticipating there’s going to be a point where every community and school is going to be hit.

“It will probably have an impact for a couple of weeks and it’s most likely to happen in autumn or winter when the weather changes.

“If we have a number of staff and pupils affected, having an impact on the school, we would close.

“We will wait and see what happens. Certainly we know it’s getting closer.”

Damon Howlett, headteacher of St Andrew’s Primary School, Halstead, said: “We have an action plan in case there’s a case.

“The only reason we would close is if staffing levels become too low, but hopefully that won’t happen.

“We have got tissues and anti bacterial soap in toilets and classrooms.”

Helena Carter, bursar at Hedingham School, Sible hedingham, said: “To date we haven’t had any cases but we’re fully prepared for anything that might happen."