HEALTH bosses have lashed out at snooping TV reporters who claimed they discovered the so-called "superbug" MRSA at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Hospital chiefs launched the scathing attack on ITV ahead of a programme that will feature clandestine footage shot by undercover reporters at the Royal in their bid to find failings in hygiene standards.

As well as surreptitiously filming a recovering patient on a ward, researchers from Tonight With Trevor McDonald took swabs from door handles and lift buttons, which they analysed for the potentially deadly MRSA. Security guards caught the reporters red handed at the hospital as they were carrying out their secret probe and escorted them from the building.

Hospital chiefs dispute the reporters' findings and have called for the show not to be screened.

It was due to be aired at 8pm on Monday, but an ITV spokesman told the Evening News it will now be shown later this month.

Dr Chris Catchpole, who is leading the hospital's crackdown on infection, slammed the programme, saying: "The tests are seriously flawed and very unlikely to give accurate results. Our concerns are backed by the Department of Health's inspector of microbiology."

The way the programme makers tested the swabs would not lead to differentiation between MRSA and other completely harmless bacteria carried on the skin, he added.

MRSA can be carried on someone's skin and cause no ill-effect, unless it enters the body via an open wound, he said.

If areas did test positive for MRSA - which he claims their own tests do not reveal - it wouldn't be a problem as long as those touching the surfaces cleaned their hands before entering wards or touching patients, he added.

The news comes as the hospital this week launched a hand hygiene campaign - urging patients, visitors and staff to wash their hands with bacteria-busting alcohol gel dispensers.

Hospital chief executive John Rostill said: "We are worried the programme will use bad science to make unjustified claims about infection risks in our hospital and cause unnecessary alarm.

"I would prefer people to take an active role in helping us tackle this very important issue than worry about sensational reports on TV. An ITV spokesman said: "The results of our investigation will be shown later this month. It would be inappropriate to comment further.