BARBECUE enthusiasts were today warned to make sure meat is cooked properly after health officials revealed they were investigating six cases of deadly E.coli poisoning across East Lancashire in just 12 days.

Experts believe that some of the cases - one of which has left a 21-year-old Padiham woman in intensive care - could be linked.

East Lancashire Health Authority said the other victims - two adults and three children - were recovering at home. Two cases are from the Ribble Valley and the others are from Blackburn, Pendle and Rossendale.

Today a health authority spokeswoman warned about the dangers of failing to properly cook meat on barbecues which increased the risk of developing E.coli.

She said: "People should also avoid drinking unpasteurised milk and should be very careful about personal hygiene."

Environmental health experts have visited several restaurants and pubs and are "vigorously investigating" the source of the food poisoning.

The six cases have all been reported to public health bosses since July 12. In an average year, the health authority will normally be informed of about 50 cases.

E.coli can be caused by contaminated food and dairy products and can also be contracted from farm animals.

To minimise the risk of infection people are also warned to keep kitchen work surfaces clean and maintain a high standard of personal hygiene.

The worst outbreak of E.coli was in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1996 which claimed the lives of more than 20 people.

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