A COURTROOM was evacuated and scrubbed clean yesterday after officials discovered a defendant was suffering from the superbug MRSA.

Teesside Crown Court, in Middlesbrough, had to call in a specialist cleaning team after staff were told that a man appearing on a theft charge had the contagious condition.

His case went ahead but afterwards courtroom one and a consulting room were sealed off and decontaminated.

People who had been in the same courtroom as the man were told there was no specific threat but were advised to wash.

A witness said there was panic in the court building. "There was such a hoo-hah with people concerned that he shouldn't be there."

The Department for Constitutional Affairs later issued a statement, which said: "Earlier today one of the parties in a case in Teesside Combined Court was reported by one of his legal representatives to have MRSA. This caused concern among other court users. After the case finished (by lunchtime), the courtroom was evacuated and the local health authority contacted.

"They advised that as MRSA is a bacteria that is passed on via physical contact, there was no specific threat to the general public. They advised that those who had been in the same courtroom with the party should wash in the normal way with soap and that the room should be cleaned."

Courtroom One will be open as normal today. Anyone with concerns about contamination should call the health authority on 0845 46 47.