A CARTOON detective is on Teesside to raise awareness about the misuse of prescribed antibiotics.

Moxy Malone, designed by Viz illustrator Steve Donald, is seeking the truth about when antibiotics do and don't work.

Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust (PCT) tops the league table for the highest level of antibiotic prescriptions in the country.

So the medicinal sleuth was in the Normanby Medical Centre, Eston, near Middlesbrough, to educate doctors and patients on the dangers of non-essential use of antibiotics.

Dr Ifti Lone said: "Out of 303 PCTs, Middlesbrough is the highest prescriber, and the area we are working in is the highest in Middlesbrough.

"We do appreciate this area has high incidences of illnesses such as bronchitis, asthma and sore throats.

"But patients will no longer put up with coughs and colds, so they expect doctors to prescribe antibiotics, but they do not work for viral infections.

"We are trying to get across two very important messages during this campaign.

"Firstly, to ensure patients are clear that antibiotics do not work against viruses, and secondly, the dangers of viruses becoming immune to the treatment due to misuse."

The campaign featuring the cartoon character is also running on radio and TV, appearing on bus shelters and on posters and leaflets throughout January.

Lucy Wilson, a pharmacist for Middlesbrough PCT, reiterated the doctor's concern.

She said: "Within ten years, the current antibiotics may well not work because we use them so much. We need to try and cut the use of them now before that happens."