YOUNGSTERS at a Middlesbrough School were taught yesterday by environmental health officers about the importance of hand-washing.

Three classes at Abingdon School joined in the sessions designed to reduce the risks of illnesses such as cold, flu and food poisoning.

Children were told disease-causing bacteria cannot be seen by the naked eye and that they should wash their hands after playing outside, petting animals, touching rubbish, eating food or going to the toilet.

"Good hand washing is a simple message that most of us know but do not practice," said environmental health officer Joy Swithenbank

"Simply rinsing you fingertips under cold water doesn't count, so we want to encourage our younger children to get it right early on."

Teaching packs have been sent out to all primary schools in the town so teachers and school nurses can help get the message across.

All children attending a healthy hand-washing course will get a certificate signed by Middlesbrough Council's hygiene inspector.

Environmental health staff can visit schools with their Glo Bug machine, which shows where bacteria remains on hands if they are not washed properly.

The council also hopes its message will get across to parents and the wider community.

Half of men and a quarter of women do not wash their hands after going to the toilet.

Mrs Swithenbank said: "It is a habit shared and passed down by many adults.

"This is something which makes the spread of illnesses, such as food poisoning and diarrhoea, more certain.

"The number of germs on your fingertips doubles after using the toilet."