HEALTH chiefs are teaching people how to wash their hands in a bid to stop the spread of bugs and viruses.

Bosses of the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust said the simple step was an "easy way" of reducing the risk of things like stomach bugs or colds and flu.

And to hammer home the message the PCT's infection control team is using an ulra-violet beam to show up areas on a people's hands that are not clean and could harbour harmful germs.

According to the PCT, the secret to washing your hands correctly is a six-stage technique taking about 20 seconds.

The campaign will be run in the area covered by the PCT: Hyndburn, the Ribble Valley, Pendle, Burnley and Rossendale.

Public Health Director Dr Ellis Friedman said: "The benefits of such a simple action as hand-washing may seem unworthy of comment but people would be horrified if they realised the amount of bacteria that gets on people's hands in the course of everyday living.

"Too often, too many people do not pay enough attention to the proper way of washing their hands.

"It only takes 20 seconds to wash right and to wash well."

Health chiefs said that poor personal hygiene was the prime cause of passing on germs.

And with the winter vomiting bug affecting thousands of people recently, the need for a hands-on campaign was vital, they said.

The PCT's public health experts said that hand-washing was the first line of defence against the spread of any type of infection.

Marie Wright, a member of the infection control team, said: "Everyone thinks that they know how to wash their hands properly but we find a lot of people either don't carry it out properly or are ignorant of how to do it effectively."

Infection control team member Tracy Walmsley added: "Hand drying is important too because bacteria transfers off wet hands more easily.

"Health experts prefer the use of disposable paper towels to do this most effectively.

"Moisturising is helpful too, since dry skin allows bacteria to cling on.

"In addition, you should make sure you wash under any rings that you wear.

"That area harbours a tremendous amount of bacteria."

People will be targreted for the campaign through Accrington Victoria Hospital, the Accrington Pals Health Care Centre, Clitheroe Community Hospital, health centres in Brierfield, Colne and at Yarnspinners in Nelson, the St Peter's Health Centre, Burnley, as well as Kiddrow Lane, Brierfield and Padiham Health Centres and Haslingden Health Centre and at St James' Medical Centre in Rawtenstall.

In future, the advice will be spread through schools and to shoppers in supermarkets.