A children's farm in Epsom linked to the E coli outbreak in Godstone has also closed after a health inspection.

Horton children’s farm, a favourite destination during holidays and school trips, closed yesterday after advice from the Health Protection Agency.

It is the sister farm to the Godstone children’s farm at the centre of the largest outbreak of E coli in the UK where dozens of children fell ill this week.

An Epsom Council spokeswoman said: "The Health Protection Agency requested an inspection of Horton Park Children's Farm to be carried out by Epsom and Ewell Council’s Environmental Health department. Following subsequent advice from the Health Protection Agency, the Children’s Farm in Horton Lane Epsom has decided to close temporarily as a precautionary measure."

The owners of the farm said there is no link between animals at Godstone children’s farm and Horton Children’s Farm at Epsom.

Although the two farms are sister organisations and are run by the same management, animals at the two farms have not been in contact.

Thirty-six cases of E coli infection have been linked with Godstone. Twelve of them affected are children with three of the young victims remaining seriously ill.

They include two-year-old twins who are undergoing dialysis as a result of the infection, which can cause diarrhoea and sometimes serious kidney and blood complications.

There is growing anger that the Godstone farm remained open even after the outbreak was reported and more than 50,000 people who visited the attraction since August have now been urged to seek medical advice.

Each farm has its own dedicated staff who do not visit the other facility during their working hours. While the Godstone farm remains closed, staff have been told not to meet in their off-duty hours to avoid possible contamination.

Horton farm manager Les Franklin said: “The staff do not usually mix, but we are reinforcing the message – we are saying that the Godstone staff must not come over here under any circumstances. Normally the only contact there is between the two farms is administrative. We have no contact whatsoever with the animals.”

Extra checks are being made on the health of the animals at the Epsom farm and disinfection procedures, normal at this time of year, are being carried out.

Parents and children are being reminded of the importance of hand hygiene and are encouraged to use the antibacterial soap provided by the farm after handing animals rather than using hand gels.

Mr Franklin said: “In our opinion, people tend not to use the gels properly and don’t get their hands really clean. If they use soap and water they are more likely to wash their hands properly.”

Has anyone in your family been affected by the Godstone outbreak?