VISITORS to farms in Bolton are being warned to wash their hands in a bid to avoid serious infection.

Several cases of cryptosporidium, which causes severe diarrhoea, have been diagnosed across Greater Manchester in the last few weeks after people visited local farms on educational trips.

Health chiefs are now urging people to be extra careful when it comes to hand hygiene following visits to attractions or when they have been touching animals in a bid to stop the spread of the infection.

Chris Booth, director of the Greater Manchester health protection unit, said: "We tend to see an increase in cryptosporidium infection and other infections at this time of year and these are often associated with farm visits.

"The bug can be carried by many different types of animal, including farm animals, and is especially common around lambing time."

The infection causes diarrhoea and abdominal pain and is not usually serious, although it can be for people with a weakened immune system.